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Published Weekly at 154 West 4SI h Sti -.e«t, New York 19, Jtf„ T., hy A a .lotv. inf. Attmn' «u1*sr;j Ji»t i<»n, ?10> Studio c<MHt\« 25 c^tif*. 
EoUied aa <ieco»d-ctas» iiiutier liMeeinbev Vi, 1905. at 'tlie Post Oliica n't IsVw Voil;. ."■N--' V . umjyr tlie nut vf;' Mi^rcli S, -1SI9. 
< OI*YKI<;tlT. iJM4, BY VARIETY. INC. Af*tV RIGHTS KHSKIU I' ll. J 



VOL; 155 No. 4 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1944 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



RADIO'S ROLE IN THE PEACE 




Radio War Correspondents Seen § 
0(f to Pacific In New Pooling Setup PQSTWAR ERRORS 



Shifting of- major radio combat ♦• 
CoVrespopdents from the European 
Theatre «| Operations to the Pacific 
battle area has become a distinct 
possibility, following a meeting in 
N. -Y. Monday (3) between news 
heads of the four major networks 
jUidl.U. S, Navy officers.: ';.■•'■ 
. Networks '-desire to send combat 
: correspondent teams into the vast 
U.S. -Japanese theatre of battleVas 
goon as arrangements can be made 
by the. Navy, to transmit recordings 
■ of ' fight* in that area ...quicker than 
currently to the mainla nd,-' using, a 
pooling arrangement such .as is in 
effect -currently in the ETO 
■ Lt Cmdr. J.. Han Hon Hartley, 
USNR, oiticer in -criarge- ol the radio 
section of the Navy, oflice ot public 
-relations, has started machinery in 
nioiion to' get trahsmisfion facilities 
and equipment to more advanced 
Pacific ba<»es ior taster i-cla-^^o-San- 
Fi'.ancisco, where .; combat ...recordings 
will be picked up by the lour major 
webs tor/ immediate broadcasting fol- 
low trie, any., censorship that, is neces- 
iaf; ii.ii. security teutons. • * 

Li; ' Marvin Royston, USNR. who 
heacfed the London technical' crews 
■which cleared Navy recordings -by 
George Hicks and others in the Euro* 
. .. (Continued on page 14) ■■.';.'.' 



Jive to B.O. Rescue 

Los, Angeles, July 4. 
Regardless of ..what they may. 
think: of each other profession- 
ally, Old Man Mose and . Old Man 
. Mozart, figuratively, reached at 
least one understanding. 

In Los Angeles, in August, 
•several hot bands led by name 
jive maestros, will put bit a 
three-night dance festival to 
wipe out a $25,000 deficit in- 
curred by the L, A, ' Philhar- 
lnomc Orch, * , • 



CBS Plan* to Enlist Top Tal- 
ent for Series of Programs 
to Avoid Mistakes Fol- 
lowing World War t 



'THE VERSAILLES SERIES' 



Film Industry Wants Eric Johnston As 
Co-Head With Will Hays of MPPDA 



Donkey Serenade ' 

> Washington.. july ; 4. 
The. Democrat's ire wrinkling 
brows and scratching ears over 
choice of slogans as their , call- 
to-arms for the, Corning joust: at 
tlie national ballot box. One 
you're apt to see around uryy, 
First Things Come First 
And Fit st. ■• , • • 
■ : • Comes • . 

.•.-'■' \:':^'.' : ^v ■ 'fc¥$v'---'' '.C-j 



Eisenhower's Bid 
For Top U.S. Stars 

,>';.'■'. . • :■ . ■ London. July 4. '■;. 
'■' At instigation; of General Eisen- 
hower a project is afoot 1.6 immedi- 
ately bring over Bing Crosby. Dinah 
Shore. Jimmy Duraine and other 
American names for purpose of en- 
tertaining the Forces. ' v . \ ;.: 

Talent Will be broadcast on Allied 
Expeditionary Forces ( AEF ) 285 mm. 
wavclenglh, to be relayed to Force's 
in England and abroad. , • / ; ■ 
■ Aggregation, will be. given English 
support from local talent, with some 
of the USO-Camp Shows talent, now 
heie. also in support. 
■ It is expected transportation ..will 
be niade. available immediately, with 
, ' ... Washington, July 4. | some of the stars reportedly already 
B Hv Rose, by expressing a desire i checked in here, 
to bring '•Carmen Jones"' to Wash-:'' '. ..'■■: !■ — i— 

3iiSS COMEDY OF ERRORS AT : 

theatre in. the National capital would 
be lily-wh'i te.-.Th is q ucstion pi, segre- 
gation has Jong been a controversial 
one in this locality. "•''■'■'' "■; ' 

, -Most <jf the. . National -theatre's 
•patrons' are -of white persuasioliV. and 
': the boxoft'tee has been ba r red . t o 
■Negroes, There is no probiem "with 
the picture housesr because the 
Lichfman chain fief's first-run fran- 
chises and operates' day and date 
*'i'h 'the Negro houses: ,'■ ~- -; '•; ' .v 
The difficulty traces back to the 
'"':-;.- (Continued oh: page 30.) : •:'.'-' 



'Carmen Jones' Stirs™ 
Wash. Race Question 



- ;-. By. GEORGE ROSEN s 
One at -the. most, ambitious projects 
ever, launched in radio, designed to I 
reach- out to a new generation of 
millions of radio listeners to fa- 1 
miliarize them with the mistakes that 
followed in the wake of World War 
J, M currently on the agenda for the 
new fall season, Plan is lo point -up 
the pitfalls that must be avoided to 
secure the peace once the Nazis are 
conquered.. , ' - , 

The proposed project, slated lor 
(Continued on page 36) 



Shuberts Take Steps 
To Nix Critic Garland 
From Their Shows 

The Shuberts have another con- 
troversy, with tlie press. This lime 
it is Lee who started si, the "victim" 
being" Robert Garland, reviewer 'of 
the Journal-American, N. Y.. who 
severely panned "Ten Little Ifir 
dians which opened at .the Broad- 
hurst last w'eek (27), For tb.^t.. Gar- 
land w as "barred'; but with .reserva- 
tions,-- ,: ;\ '/,','■'-''" "'.",..■' '■';" 

Shubert ■ press, agent, C -P. 
Greneher, telephoned the critic al- 
ter .the • notice appeared and told 
Garland he was no longer welcome 
to Shubert openings Whether that 
meant shows the Sim produces or 
any which are booked into their 
houses wasat "made clear, but Lee 
Shubert got on the line and made it 
tTroiilinuetToiT page 37 .» 



Mull 2-Year Trial 
For 1 Talent Union 

Plan for merger of the old talent 
Unions, the long proposed^ "one big-| looked upon by Congress and Amer't 
nil ion." has f urther progressed, pres- 1 eal1 ••business in general , as weir as 
ent idea calling: for an .amalgamation 
for. a trial, period of two years.f-Dtir? 



- , Holly wood. July 4, 

Will Bays, prexy of the Motion 
Picture Producers & Distributors ot 
America, is due in here tomorrov/ 
(Wed ) awaiting the arrival frout 
Russia ot Eric Johnston, president 
U. S. Chamber of Commerce, to . 
whom he will tender the post of 
associate bead of the film oi'g»m/.»- 
tioii; ■ - : . ".- .V. ...X •■-■'•'. .-'.'■■'-' -.•,'•••'!-.'' • :■', ; . ■'-. 

Picture people for the past year 
ov so have looked at Johnston as the- 
outstanding ambassador of goodwill 
foi American business, and pressure 
is understood being put by all flUu 
heads to bring Johnston into the pix 
told. With Johnston having, been so 
outspoken recently in his conlei- 
ences with Joseph Stalin in Moscow 
on the mattei of American and Rt>s- 
sian relations, film company officials 
feel he would be the perfect balance 
for .Hays nn "administrating, the af- 
fairs of the MPPDA in the future. 
Johnston, is known to be iavoiably 



ing such time it. is expected that one 
membership card would cover the 
various 1 talent fields, an objective of 
the combination. It is assumed that 
the. parent union. Associated Actors ; ' , . ■" " ■ ■ - . ' — : ' 

5"* A, T lst l s f America,, ..ivouw '- m Lucienne Boyer, Hubby 

dormant during lh».--» *v.m>rnt««>At«i1 J. ) ,'^ mm ""J 



! by- the Administration, His acquisi- 
j tion by the Hays organizalioii as co- 
I head; it .is felt, would be, of material . 
i aid to all film business for the post-. 
{ Wai; era as. he js well up on foreign 
( affairs. He could be most useful m 
I (Continued on page ,39 1 ' 



Would Shut Only Cinema 
In Pique Over 'Gas Jam 

• • Detroit: July 4 

William-. A'. Cassidy announced last J 
Week that he would close dow n Mid- \ 
land's only theatre, which he, owns,. 1 
- lx otest against coiifiscatiOa of his , 
BWoIitie i-ations. 

. Ca.,sidy > S aid. that his "A" book was ; 
JjKen. up; last .Frirjny CtOi by the ! 
: Loul >t\ Ration B.Odt'1'd'a • gasoline ; 
Pane] as a penalty hn a nio'ttn" trip 
w Florida irom which he roturned ' 
s\x weeks. aviO. The trip was ma*. 
»» »'ecmhm'«iulatioii v o{. a", phvsician 
"< said. . . • .. .•■' . '. . ' ■ .'■ ' ' - 



2 STRAWHAT THEATRES 

Mistakes in ■■judgment and false 
economy by some summer, stotk j 
manajievs could be described as a;1 
corned v of . en br.4, -. f wo .more or less | 
laughable incidents Veame to light , 
last week, one in. Bayonne. -N. 
and the -other at Hartfprd.* ' ; 

Victory' theatre, r'ayohne. had 
been , crimping its chances -by' not 
opening. the bo.xotVic: un,tU about. .10 
minutes before, curtain.: liiiie. . .Pliilip 
Steinberg, who has the stock and 
also sells .tlie tickets. \( ';plai necl , that 
it cost, money to ke/jp' .the. boxollicc 
Open through the .day. . All phpiie 
calls to the theatie thel'cl'ora . wen! 
unanswered; Hoiise folded Sat. . '1 i. 

The. actors were iiiclifiecK"' lb 
snicker at tlie , oper.it.or 

idea but didn't think; it funny \vhpn, ■' New York outlet >on. Sunday night 
the sjme: setting V-.iv- used tor aff.- 12), : ' * 



the experimental 
merger period 

Outline of the. plan .was discussed 
at .Equity's -council.-session jast weeki 
when it was made clear. that -the legit 
giotlp is m favor of the merger if 
the reoi'ganization of the talent 
unions can be worked Out .satisfac- 
torily Councillors were told - by 
Paul Dullzell, Equity's executive sec- 
retary, that they lace the most mo- 
mentous issue since the formation of 
the association, 'including the de- 
cision to strike m 1919. They were 
(Continued on page 2) 



Victims of Paris Nazis? 

Unconfirmed report has come yi* 
the French underground once again 
that Lucienne Boyer and her pianist- 
husband. Jean Delettte, were yictimil 
of the Nazis in occupied Paris, 

Report was around before, but 
it's held to be more authentic ntrtr. 
The chanteu.se. at her . famed' Chez 
Elle, re portedly wouldn't 'collabo- 
rate' Delettre is w.k. as a song- 
smith with "Parle.;- Moi d'Amoui" 
and "Hands Across the Table" amomj 
his hits, ■■..■.-" , 



vmi TELEVI^IO^ 



Set Television's First 

Stock Company Tour! Hf 

Skedded's tour of first, tele stock 
company''? has., been mapped, with 
-tons at. General Electric: studios in. 
Schenectady,' N, Y., and Balaban & : 
Kaiz.' studio's'; in Chicago already.; 
pencilled in. Group staged its first '! 
strange i pi esentation at WABD, DuMont 



-three plays at live , victory. 
[ At Hartford the theatie i.s" opci- 
■ ated by the. Dow.s, Kilo opened -w ith 
i "Arsenic and Old Lace " When Al 
j Dow; reached the trteati.e',. tth.'i,6 W 
is also the treafiiiier, ti.uM'w t,»i. A 
' long . line at. -the' bo\f<ific4 hut ho 
'. couldn't . open up . btva use the tictic' - 
I wel'o .locketlfn the .s i'e an.i Hi J W.n't 
Iremeiii'ber t»ie cuinV.imitjon,' • 



'.Company, which put on 'The 
Woman Who Was Acquitted,': an old 
French one-act play, includes Steve 
. Robes Is Masoii Adams-, Josephine 
Van Vhet,. Jack Bittiofi. Ronald- 
-Alexancla and Donald Ruyes, Tour 
is under aegis ol Televi.s'oii -\V"oi !v- 
-hop, N. Y. tele -.production. agency, 
• 'nth organized- and sluged. trie Sun- 
j .ti,fy fi) night show. 




VIOLA 



The Hour 
Ol Charm 

Olrl Orchestra 
and C'h«lr 

y 4 on«lM4*le«l by 

Phil Spitalny 



MISCELLANY 



VSntEfY 



Wednesday, July 5, 1914 



Pabst Buys Danny Kaye in $16,000 
Package; Groucho Contract Settled 



Hollywood, July *. * 
Danny Kaye will replace Groucho 
Marx as headman of "Blue Ribbon 
Town" for Pabst beef starting Jan, 6. 
Package controlled by Kaye and his 
business manager, Lou Mandil; N. Y. 
attorney, calls for $16,000 weekly. 
Paul Warwick <& Legler) bought 
Kaye arid whatever else goes into 
the program. 

Phil Rapp, originally Integrated 
' into the 'package deal as writer and 
producer, has failed to come to an 
agreement with Mandel over certain 
terms and indications were; that 
Rapp will bow out of the picture. He 
is insisting that his terms be, met, 
aside from salary demands which are 
not at issue.. ■ '■ ' :.'".■ \ >.•;•.. ■"':,■ .' 

Although, owing Pabst five weeks 
on his current commitment, .effective 
upon his 7 return Aug. 17 from an 
eight-week layoff, Marx has asked 
• for 'his -release which' will probably 
be granted. Client holds the option 
right to two more six-month cycles 
but such a pickup would take 
Groucho past the starting date of 
Kaye's kick-off. Harris Pcrlstem. 
piez of Pabst, upon receipt or 
Groucho's request for washup of the 
contract instructed Warwick to 
'•clean it up." V.'--':'* ; \'\' : vyr'-'Cv '.'-,';; .'•:■ 
Marx protested, to Warwick .that 
he was being placed, at an unfair 
'disadvantage, due to option oh the 
next 26 weeks not falling due .until 
•late in August. When Daily Va- 
riety'' printed the. story that War- 
wick was hot after Kaye for Pabst. 
the agency exec flatly denied any 
such intention and added that Pabst 
was •'happy" with Mat x. He agreed 
. that Marx's high-point Crossley of 14 
for a beer show on Saturday night 
can be interpreted as a "successful 
comedy^ program." .•' 

Neither William Morris agency, 
which handles Kaye for pictures, rior 
Music Corp., to which Kaye is "mor- 
ally • obligated" since MCA takeover 
of Columbia Artists several years 
ago, figured in the negotiations. Man' 
del acted for Kaye and Scwman 
Lawlcr of the New York law firm of 
: O'Brien. Driseoll & Raftery repre- 
sented Pabst and the agency in the 
negotiations and final signing of 
contracts. '•' ■:-■/',/., : ■.'■■'". 

;V . It Marx is given release from the 
remainder of his contract so he can 
make another deal for the fall, un- 
derstood that Pabst will continue 
Kenny Baker and the summer setup 
until Kaye initiates the. series, after 
return from ah overseas entertain- 
ment tour. If Rapp's terms are met 
and he presides as writer-producer 
of "Blue Ribbon Town." the later 
start would, enable him to complete 
the libretto he's, working on for a 
Shubert musical. Currently he is do- 
ing a script job on Kaye's picture for 
Sam GoldWyn, "Wonder Man," 



Mrs. Will Rogers' Will 

- Hollywood, July 4. 

Estate of Mrs; Will (Betty) Rogers, 
widow of the cowboy humorist, filed 
for probate Saturday (1>, was valued 
"in excess of $10,000." 

Three children, Will, Jr., James 
and Mary, will share estate equally. 
James Rogers and the Beverly Hills 
National Bank & Trust Co. named 
executors. •• • '<.. . ' ! M.\ .:■■,:';'■. .:'•.'•'.'., „■" 




Helen Gahagan Set To 
Address Dems in Chi 
As Reply to Clare Luce; 

Washington, July 4. S 
Helen Gahagan (Mrs. Melvyn) " 
Douglas, herself a former Broadway 
star, was selected yesterday (3) by j 
the Democratic National Committee ' 
to be one of two women who will] 
address the Democratic . National j 
Convention in Chicago,. ' | 
Since- she has captured the Demo- j 
cratie Congressional nomination in a 
nonni liy Republican district of Los 
'■Angeles ■ County she i« looked on 
here as the '.New Deal's answer to 
Clare Booth Luce jn Congress. Dem- 
ocratic politicians are looking ahead 
with considerable interest tocher 
speech, the second night of the con- I 
vention, to see how she stacks up! 
against Mrs.: Luce as a personality i 
and talker. 

Miss Gahagan is Democratic Na- ; 
tionai .. Committeewoman from .Call-" 
fornia and vice-chairman of the 
Democratic State Committee. 



107lh WEEK ! 
KEN MURRAY'S 

"BLACKOUTS OF 1944" 
El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, Cal. 

The; niehld K.mlen — Ken Mur- 
rav ■ deft showmanship in -his 
'Blackouts? of -1 944' now in its third 
season .if, K! ' Oapitan ('upacity 
Juinsfs always." 

WALTER WINCH ELL. 



Mimi Forsythe Only 
Known Show Biz Name 
So Far in 'Chief Wreck 

. Reported that Mimi Forsythe, film 
actress — wife of Benedict Bogeatis, 
producer who releases .through 
United Artists, was ariipng those in- 
jured in the wreck of Santa Fe> 
westbound Chief approximately 18 
miles- from Williams, Ariz., yester- 
day (Tuesday ) morning. According 
to, meagre reports reaching the east, 
Miss Forsythe suffered a fractured 
wrist and possible internal injuries. 
Up to late yesterday afternoon re- 
ports. of the nature Of the wreck.and 



GEORGE, MURRAY PLAY 
SHOWS DESPITE ILLS 

• Hollywood, July 4. 

Two troupers, stars of their respec- 
tive companies, demonstrated that 
the old slogan. "The show must "go 
on," "still prevails on the.stage: ... 'V.f 

Ken Murray broke a bone in h", 
ankle by tailing into the orchestra 
pit; ' Edgar Bergen, backstage at the 
time, functioned as pmch-hitter for 
the -rest -b'i' the night but Murray was 
back on the job next day with ; a 
plaster cast and a cane!.'' ■•- 

..Gladys George, wrapped in yards 
of tape, returned to work in "Per- 
sonal. Appeaianee," in- spite of a 
sacroiliac displacement. .'.. 



'Army' Celebrates Anni 
'Somewhere in Italy' 
Playing Before Troops 

"This Is The Army," Irving; Ber- 
lin's Gl musical, celebrated its sec- 
ond, anniversary, yesterday (Tues.) 
"somewhere m Italy." Show IS now 
playing towns and army camps in 
Southern Italy mainly to Gl audi- 
ences, with reception as enthusiastic 
as when seen by civilian audiences 
in the U. S. ■■':■ '-,\ *'..}■ ■■ 

"The* show : is ;a riot here.", writes" 
Berlin, who is with the company; 
'"every .^performance seems like an 
opening night." 

Berlin^ who inserted a new infan- 
try song recently into the show, ex- 
pects to leave Italy shortly on his 
way back to U. S. There has been 
talk of a Special Services booking 
"Army'' for an Australian run. 



D 



1 Talent Union 

Continued from page 1 — 



Nazis Stripped the Puce's 
Film Studios Near Rome 

' .The- 'Nazis, beat Allied troops to 
M ussol i n i s h tige motion piicture stu - 
dios and picture establishment near 
Rome. Result was that when Amer- 
ican troops moved into the $500,000 
plant after Rome was captured, they 
found the establishment stripped of 
its expensive sound equipment, valu- 
able recordings, sets,, etc. ■'... :. > 

Apparently the once-famed II Duce 
film studio lavout had been moved 
bodily to Germany. Buildings, ap- 
parently were left hi tact '' '■ 



150G Musical 'Rain 



Paramount is ..putting- up $75,000 to 
. match, it a not her 75G by outside ,iri- 
narries of the casualties had hot been | vesfors in A. P. Waxmi»n's forthcom- 
receiyed, - although the names . of 



ing musicalizationV lof . ."Rain," by 
Howard Dieiz and Vernon Duke. 
Ethel Merman "j? set for the' Sadie 
; Thompson role, .with Rouberi . Ma- 
moulian. just, arrived from the 
Coast, to-stage. Agnes de Mille will 
cate whether- the tram was the Chief -j do tlv dances,. ., - 

or the, Super -Chief, both , of which . Leo' Brecher, N V. theatre owner, 

and. Mrs. Doris Warner LeRoy arc. 
[ among '...the, non-Par backers.'.' 



fome dead and injured included no 
one known . to be. in show business 
except. Miss . Kors.yt.he..- However, 
list was incomplete. First accounts 
were that there were five dead and 
,21) injured. Bulletins, did- not bid] 



. me extensively used by showfolk. 



JOLSON'S SCREEN BIGG 
READY TO SHOOT OCT. 1 

■ At' Jolson' left yesterday ITucs: ) 
for Holly v ood wP.ti Harry ARsff^TTis 
accompanist, -after a- ia-t two-days 
in New, Yoiic -between his bond tour. 

Jolson, now a Columbia producer, 
stales that the ■ 'Sidney Skolsky bioi" 
on his (Jolson's) life "has finally 
be.en licked and I'm satisfied with 
the story," - Shooting, nifty s.avt Oct. 
1, Jolson still leans to. 'Gene Kctlv 
to play him, but a n< wcomer may 
filso get it, as in the case of "George 
"Jei s)'- iv in ; on the W;>t nK P' os. lof 



Cregar's Strawhatter 

. Laird Crciar arrived in N. Y. from 
the Coast Monciay (3) for his stage 
appearance in "The Man Who Came 

to Dinner' at.Gus Schirmer's Strand, 
S.tamf<»rd, week of July 10. Actor 
will leave promptly for the Coast 
again Jul.\ 17,. for a 20th-Kox film 
coniiintriient, 

•Cregai" played the "Dinner" role 
la.-t year -at El C.'pitan, Los Angeles, 
this and "•Oscar Wilde' done two 
seasons ago beiii^-jhis only 'legit ap- 
pearances since entering fil|ns. V. . 



advised , to think over the one-union 
proposal thoroughly. . . - 

j Plan. ■ '-which hiis. not been worked 
out entirely, calls for a committee of 

! 10 members from each talent union—- 
Equity i includihg the chorus branch ), 
Screen Actors Guild, American Fed- 
eration of Radio Artists, American 
Guild, of Musical. Artists and Ameii- 
car. ; Guild of Variety Artists,' the 
foreign-language unions not being 
within-. the first! setup. '; The commit- 
tee would be an overall council for 

' tfie merged unions, name of which is 
somewhat controversial. 

The pjpent unions would continue 
to hold- their identities but the treas- 
uries .of each would be frozen, since 
all dues would be paid to the com- 
bined organizations. . . However, each 
union would have control of its 
assets and make expenditures as re- 
quired. Understood that each union 
would maintain offices- and staffs 
much as now, . ;'' '': j : „-- ' 

It is possible that the .insistence of, 
the various talent organizations to 
maintain -their identities may stymie 
the -merger plan. Reported that a 
suggestion that the one union "be 
known as the "Allied Equity Assm" 
1 was opposed although the principal 
I unions originally stemmed from 
j Eqii ity, that is, except AG VA < vaude- 
jvllle). The working plan must be 
t approved by the. boards or councils 
of the ajliliates, sucli consideration 
! probably occurring next season. One 
i suggestion made is that Dtillzell be 
I head of the merged union because of 
( his long experience in actor organi- 
sations.: ;•*,' , ;". '''•'.■';<■;'; , : y .'-."'.•' 
| , Generally, believed that one union 
j would be beneficial to all profes- 
sionals. si-riee .it would represent all 
j talent phases of amusements. There 
j is IiKle doubt that the merged talent 
, groups would have the moral sup- 
j port of stage labor, -principally, the 
i stag'fehartds and. musicians unions, 
when legjxftion or other cardinal 
! issues iii'ise. ' .- -.''' .' ■ 



SHerr iff to England 

| R, C. Sherrifr, -English aiithof; is 
i in New York from a Metro writing 
Stint jjt Hollywood, and plan's l'e- 
I turning .to London. ',-■ , , 

_ He'll probably align with Metro 
abroad, but mfciurtime .lit s concen- 
tratioft on some fiction." ~* 



I SCULLY'S SCRAPBOOK 

**************** By Frank Scully »>♦♦» 

■'■■; ■/'■' ..'.- Vj<': '. ,-'v,v.' ;'/■'„ : ', '.''.V:.' ';' '-/;.' .\y:-' "A:, '. ; . Hollywood, July 4. 

Some weeks before Tom Dewey was nominated to Change Everything, 
a critic in "Stars and Stripes," G. I. overseas journal, griped '-'about the 
bad projection of Par's prize pic, "Going My Way," on 16 m m. film in a 
35 m.m. house big enough to store, Eisenhower's press clippings. . *. 

Additionally, he beefed that the showing was not a world premiere as 
advertised and cited this miigg as having praised the picture in "Variety'' 
weeks_before it_jyas released in Algiers. He had me there, but it was a 
projection room showing. In fact, the plcto'^hasrr't becm--reteasecrrai-oiiiid 
Hollywood even yet. '/•'-"•' A; ' '.:'-'•' : - • ; '".!•.'. '-.<■:'. .• ■• :';■': 

This week . I ran into the boys who have charge of overseas motion 
picture service and they gave me the. inside story of what happened in 
Algiers. They were Lt. Col. Joe McMiCking, Lt. Commander F.ugeiie Zukor 
Major Bill Williamson', Major Bob Benjamin, Major Howard Adams, Major, 
John Hubbell, and the civilian wing of Hollywood's War Activities : Com- 
mittee; Mary McCall, Jr., John C. ^linn and Joe Seidetman; picture con- 
sultant to the Secretary of War. ■ * ■ 

. One of them explained iiie flop d'estime which "Going My Way" suf- 
fered in Algiers: It fcems a captain in charge gave a sergeant a lousy feat.' 
The house was too big for 16 m.m, projection, so the picture as well »s t!ie 
sergeant got a bad break. The sergeant was catching the show for "St.-is 
and Stripes." . He couldn't pan the Captain, so he pahhed the picture pres- 
entation, which was the captain s responsibility. 

He had grouncLs. Qf.cog-r-se,. because when you project a- 16 m m. picture 
in a house keyed lor 35 Itiitri. you're walking out of the dugout toward the 
plate with two strikes: on you already. But doesn't that surge s, beef souiid 
like a delightfully American payoff? *f '. 

After that explanation of What happened to louse up the world prem ere 
in North Africa, the major threw the book at-meV It . was a big book, a file 
of G I. comment on the picture, not from Algiers but from the other tide 
of the world in New Guinea, The volume had to be lifted with care or- 
you d go down with a double hernia. < . 

• It was my job to put a staff together to break down the returns. Skilled 
after many political campaigns into knowing the trend within minutes ol 
the. closing of the polls by the use of what is known as 1 a snap-tally, T eari 
assure North Africa that "Going My Way" is a way well worth going. Out 
ol 324 ballots the breakdown read: • ■ .., 
EXCELLENT GOOD FAIR BAD NO OPINION 

' - '-254 .■;.^4.:V : : -.-. ; >,:;-..;'' -;' -5: / ,.'':'-'.'-;. ; ' ; ,' «'■... 'v.:^ : "' ',".;' ;fi',' : 

These were the personal reactions, of the.G.I.s attending the world 'pre* nv 
at.the Jungle, theatre sohiewhere. in New Guinea, and if Dewey or F.D.R. do 
better in Nbyeihber no copyrcader could be blamed for billing the thing a 
landslide: ' . V ^. : :-' ' V ■- •''• ' - '''-;' ; ' •J';- , .-':"-i,'-,"' '••.'■''■•'■.'•;'- •• '•"• ':'-' : ": ', ■ • •• ','- i .-.'';-.-7'-'-. 

As to the question as to what the G.I.s thought of world premieres for 
overseas troops, there wasn't a' dissenting ybte. To a niun, everybody 
thought the idea was so good;, why hadn't it been thought of before? 

Well, it had been, but it takes tima to. move an idea into a well-oiled 
machine. Only -taM «eck this nmgg received a gold medal from Vittpry 
Centei for a war- winning idea, and in the batch submitted this one may 
Well have been among them. 1 - 

f remember beefing Way baick in the spring. of 1942 that the whole process, 
of picture distribution should be reversed for the duration of the war. I 
argued: that the first prints should be rushed to Army outposts in Bataan, 
in Cairo and the Aleutians and then be allowed to work back toward 

Broadway, Hollywood and the Loop. - ,- , „ _ 

If they didn't get back here for two years and by then were worn and 
rainy,- well, that would be just too bad. But to send pictures frbm civilian 
capitals to Army camps, and then to transports and then to debarkation 
centers and finally into ; the .. jungle's .'-was a lousy way to treat boys who 
were doing all the dirty work of saving a civilization. , : . ■ . ". 

..'^- ,; .. ,..,' i ',.' *A:'.--'ir i rin'Ui 'Go Out Regularly- '.--.-.'-l 
Two years ago his beef w ould have- been well-founded, but today brand* 
new prints of brand : hew pictures are rushed to oiir Army outposts weekly. 
Of 438 features this year, 156 are considered okay for overseas enteriain- 
nienl. That's, three a week;'. Six officers and two civilians okay'- Iheni 
Musicals and comedies are oii.cn passed without Special scieenirig. but' 1h* 
dramas are watched for morale lags. War pictures take up the highest 
percentage, westerns the lowest. Prints are shipped to 20 centers and 
cover 3.400 locations in about 100 days. Attendance this year has been well 
over 30.ooo.ooo. -'-''■:.:•/.:'-'.' ''< : •'-" '4',->'--r. ''"J: '" -".' 

The pictures go out like food, shoes and tommy giihs. The Army looks 
upon them" as" essential materiel and flies about 70% of tlieni to bases over- 
seas. The Army long ago realized that all work and ho play makes Joe a 
dull G.I. Pictures, tnev have found, are their best entertuininent,' They 
relieve fatigue and, next to letters, from home, best buck up soldier morale. 

Col. McMk'Uing of General Mac-Arthur's staff revealed that when the 
Army asked the picture industry for the best price Hollywood could give 
on 16 m.m. pictures,', the industry's reply was, "Our best price is tioilitiifl, 
without strings attached." --"-''..,' ■ ; ■" -":''' 

Col. McMicking has one bj-.oihei" ; a prisoner in Germany, another in Japan 
and his wife a prisoner in Manila; but a more -charming, assuring member 
of the military aim would be hard to find in a. month's march anywhere,: 
His gratitude to the rank and file of Hollywood for making these pictures 
available to soldiers at the various fronts, is something to. rt-membci the 
Army by. Those of us in the inore congested areas where men are 4F's -.and. 
women are biis-di i vers are honored to wait in line for : pictures lo; drift 
back from the foxholes to the boulevards. ..- ' '".■ •'-' '-,'■ " '■ 

Just what does seeing a. picture first do for a soldier? Well, in the first 
place; according to Co). McMicking, it's the equivalent of a two-hour )ea\« 
which, by magic, moves a G, I. from the jungles to home. Second, it per* 
nuts him to write home with something- new, sure that the response will 
not be, "Aw, we saw* that six "months ago." Third, it develops a wider 
picture-loving public, and, fourth, it cures them of the pox of double- 
teaturitis, one of the liidustry s worst occupational diseases. 

That; it may also glut the postwar market with critics is something m tha 
nature of a. by-product that w ill have to be absorbed if and when it de- 
velops. Some of them Woulcln t hurt the quality of pictures anv more than 
a crop of George Jean. Nathans would hurt legit. Only one, it- was ob- 
served, turned in "No opinion." That was Cpl. Council Brag, A PC W*> 
Apparently he never had heard that "no opinion" is the w ay to get pitch- 
forked out of ' Variety s'' boxscore of . critics. ;> 

But the overwhelming number knew what they liked and Why, and they 
didn't heed a caucus in a hot hotel' room to make up thou minds either.. 
Sgt. Milton' M. Lindcr reported, "Terrific! And not only Uiat but d/miied 
good Keep 'em coming! ' Two. rated the picture excellent, , but missed 
Bob Hope and Dot tie Lam our. But Pic. James R. Hill, wrote: 
Nothing about the Auny and I didn't miss Bob Hope". Sgt. 
plugged the world-premiere idea. "We really appreciate," -'he 
chance to tip the folks off back home instead of vice uersii ' . 

Pfc. Robert S Gilliam voted, "Swell. Rise Stevens is tops, And'-'Barry. 
KiUgcrald, what; a character! Showing us the pictures fust .give? .us » 
feeling of something special w hen: we haven't much else ' Pfc. Herbeit 
Kone hit: a different note. 'Going My Way' is excellent, ' ihe .wrote, '% 
i*i the kind of picture /wli 'th reminds us Of tomorrow and not of today ' 
- Several rated the'picTure, 'and. 'Barry Fitzgerald in' pariiculiii. a*, wo' thy 
of the Academy ,award v Cpls-.- RusseJl E. McNecly and -llcrboii- Wilson, 
who operated the Mrojcclors, rated it, 16 m.m. or: no, the U -t pict\u e thty 
had seen ov-crseas—^swell story, with a good moral, s^U v l t.'.vt atixi w(U 
produced ' Sgt. Win H. Fr.-inkle wrote, "Great, only r > time ini'tc- II. 
i M.G.M." (He signed that lie was a former Metro .employee.) . 
' But the topper c:inU- irom. S^t John W. Borbas. "i:_s,.ow.,ng tbtst pi«- 
turcs-to us first. " he wrote, "dotsiit affect civilian moiule a<tvcr»fl>-.->V-*" 
nvcails let us have more, '' — - -"•'-. '•: • , 

' V/.ho'-ps! '■';'■"'" ;v '.:'-,: ' '.'.;'.'■/ '■ '. " :■'■'; ■■■■:'■" ■•' '■. ' ,'-. : '■■•''.'■ ; '.;,' •:', '•'•"'.. ". •'..■*•' 



•Excellent. 
H. Bressler 
wrote, : "the. 



Wednesday, Mf K 19H 



PICTURES 3 



TOO MANY INDIE PK UNITS? 



Organization of D-Day Newsreeling TREND CAUSES 
A Saga of Adventure in Itself 



■Washington-. July*. ■ .+ 

;*."■ . -■ . sr.- ■-- v. '<: " .,.„ ■ • 
Organization of. the setup responsi- 

•bis for the excellent war film coming 
o:, t of Normandy, and tor the speed 
wil-h which it is reaching this coun- 
try, has. been disclosed by Col. Curtis 
Mitchell, chief of the Pictorial Sec- 
tion of Array Public Relations. 
Mitchell is bade in this country alter 
aiding. in creating the machinery for 
getting still and motion pictures to 

the u, s/: :p;' v.i <: ~£ >>~r-^-" : : 

The plan for rushing D-Day Kims 
across the ocean is ; believed by 
Mitchell to be "the greatest pictorial 
team play in history." The job was 
learned the hard, way— from experi- 
ence— and the machinery was all set 
to operate, when General Eisenhower 
gave the word to attack 

First problem had to do with. han- 
dling camerameij. The combined 
U S -British-Canadian forces had a 
tola! of 4D0 uniformed lensers— 210 
for motion pix and 190 for still. shots. 
In addition, were the men ot the 
American newsreel pool.' two of 
•-Whom went in on D-Day. Division 
of work tor lull coverage was cave- 
ftillv worked out. The U.S. had two 
full Signal Corps companies assigned 
to sealed-off areas in advance of D- 
Day where they were briefed in the 
work of combat photography Such 
things were explained as not. photo-, 
graphing identifying shoulder 
patches something strictly taboo in 
th* early days of an invasion for se- 
curity reasons. They also : learned 
■tli* way films had to be captioned; 
and they Were also given 'assign-, 
then Is to various: units in the opera-, 
tlou. :'; ";0 v V"".^. 1 '- V'v.V I. "i"-* 
11 '■/ '■ '. ■ '.'H featbir and— Couriers -' - ;7 Hf -.r 

Second consideration .was fabora- 
tory. iacilities. A survey was made 
to Undt out how much combat film 
(.Continued on page \£> 



Ratoff Out of Hosp 

Hollywood, July 4. 
Gregory Ralolt left the Cedars of 
Lebanon hospital yesterday (3) alter 
having been bedded there tor five 
days as result of a heart attack. 
Director had gone to -visit Leonard 
Goldstein, a patient, and collapsed 
while m the building. 

His co nditio n has improved suf- 
ficiently for him to go Home. 




Pix Guilds Unite 
To Combat Attacks 



Don Ameche's $247,667 
Second Only to Prexy 
Skouras in 20th-Fox 

Philadelphia. July 4. 

Don Ameche was the second high- 
est pa id member of the 20th Cen- 
tury-Fox organization during 1943, 
according to the company's annual 
report filed'"last %veelc -with the Se- 
curities & Exchange Commission 
here '.J'-. - — - -V 

Ameche received $247,607 in sal- 
aries.' being topped only by Spyros 
P. Skouras. president of the com- 
pany, who received $253,998. Hertry 
King, director, was paid $208,333 



Hollywood. July 4. 

Representatives of 17 film labor 
groups, functioning as the Emer- 
gency Committee of Guilds and 
Unions, voted to form a Council of 
Hollywood Guilds and Unions, em- 
powered to defend the film industry 
against such charges as were re- 
cently leveled by the Motion -Picture 
Alliance. Speakers at the ■• meeting 
denied that the industry was infested 
by communists and crackpots, and 
Urged a constructive program oi 
public relations, now and after the 
war, Orators included Mary McCail, 
Jr.; Walter Wanger, Sidney Buch- 
man, Herbert Sorrell. James Hilton, 
Al Speede. Oliver H. P. Garrett, with 
Emlnett LaVery as chairman. 

Resolution to create the Council, 
presented by Speede, business man- 
ager' of IiUernatloiral^rotlreThoT/rf-ot 
Electrical Workers. Local 40, follows: 

1 — To combat all groups or indi- 
viduals seeking to disseminate anti- 
laboi* doctrines or propaganda en- 
couraging racial discrimination or 
religious intolerance, during and 
after Hi* war. ■--.'.";, : -'V .■■;:.''. - 

2— To bring about the cooperation 
of all those of similar views in the 
■ industry in opposing all groups or 
individuals who attack the motion 
picture • business from within or 
without; '-;•-'■ V..|'-':.; '■-'.;■>. ■•• ■'•'<■-. 

3— To protect in every manner 

(Continued on page. 19) 



Hollywood, July 4. 
Current tendency of top film 
players, producers and directors to 
organize their own production units 
is causing concern among in nor 
studio execs. They do not like 
the idea of financing and re- 
leasing deals whereby "indie units 
grab' a percentage of the profits., 
which are lush these days, t veil 
with pictures of' ordinary merit. At- 
tention to this condition was focused 
recently by the deals Paramount 
signed with Hal Wallis aiid B. G. De 
Svh a 

Similar condition prevailed during 
and after World War I, with a 
difference in. financial strategy. In 
those days the stars, producers unS 
directors deserted the major com- 
panies and went In for indie pro- 
duction because they could nvke 
more money that way than tliev 
draw in , salaries from the studios. 
This time the idea is to whittle 
down their income taxes. By form- 
ing then own corporations they can 
make one or two pictures, a year 
on nominal weekly salaries and 
make out then- income, tax returns 
on the basis of Capital gains, Under 
the Internal ■ Revenue' rules, capital 
gains are permitted greater reten- 
tion of profits than salaries or fees. 
■ 'Pace-Setter*- . 

James Cagney, long a high-sala- 
ried star at Warners, launched an 
indie company with, his brother 
William, and is drawing plenty of 
capital gains from his first pic'iires. 
"Johnny Come Lately." Hunt 
Strom berg, top Metro producer for 
20 years, did the same with his first 
independent production. "Lady pt 
Burlesque." The success of, these 
ventures has influenced many who 
were on the fence. 

Jesse Lask.y rates as a separate' 
executive "producer at. Warners and. j, 
shares in the profits, with the studio ' 
(Continued on page 39 1 



Wall Street Looks With Much la? or 
On Film Industrp Big Backlogs 



■•: . V Hollywood, July 4. . 

Bruce Manning, producer-w'iiter 
at. Universal for seven years, joined 
Jack H.,Skirball's;ne\\>jJ^diicinj£ or- 
ganization in an, executive capacity, 
details of which are being worked 
out. ■'...: .-;&••' ''■{•■ ...,' .'i'K 'y 

Ma nning, who tu rried out several 
Deaiina Durbhi picture* at Univer- , 

sal, left that studio some time ago to \?**t*».} , But it s.di.lere,, 
accept ah overseas Goveriunelit as 
sighment, now. completed; ••' 



Average Admish 
Price Now at 35c 



PAR WITHDRAWING 
'BELL' AUG. l-FEB.,'45 

"For Whom the Bell foils," sold at 
advanced admission scales and at 
high percentage ternis, will be with- 
drawn under this policy on Aug, 1, 
by which time around 800 < engage- 
ments will have been played. Charles 



Charles p. Skouras. in charge of ! M. Reagan, v. p. in charge of distribu 
the management of, all theatres aud i tion for Paramount; , states that the 
enterprises of National Theatres | „icture will be withheld from gen- 
Coip , a subsidiry of 20th-Fox, re- i era! release until February.: 1945 
ceived $130,000 in salary In addi- j w |u'ch amounts to a "protection' 'of 
tioti he received a bonus or share '-in } six - m0 utns to accounts wnich were 
the, prpflts iii the tentative.amomit.of. willing to buv it on a continuous 



18-Year Old Estate 
Battle (Joe Trinz) 
Nears Settlement 

- ; Chicago, July 4. 

The 18-year-old court battle over 
the estate of Joseph Trinz,. pioneer 
Chicago theatre owner, who. died in 
1920, jiea red settlement last week as. 
agreement Was . reached between 
Charles Conn, attorney for the '.heirs, 
and the Chicago Title & Trust Co... 
trustee for the estate. Some $300.0(10 '■ 
will be divided among 30 hens , , j 

When Triii/ died the estate is said ] 
to have been valued at SI. 000,000 In | 
1941, after waiting over 15- years for 
settlement -of theiiv claims, 14 of the. 
heirs petitioned the Probate Court J 
for an accounting, charging the tru 



The ave*rag* admission for U. S. 
pix now is figured at He, highest fji 
the industry's history: This Includes 
8c Federal admission tax, the amount 
the average patron now is paying 
under the new 20"c"tax levy. Actual 
amount that goes to the exhibitor is 
figured at 29c. thus representing.au 
increase ot about fte over the re- 
cent average admission of 27 J -ac. The 
national average admission figured is 
based on the best available data ob- 
tained by ' Variety." T- ' 

The 35c estimated to be the aver- 
age admission in the U.S. today com- 
pares with 301'jp, the former total 
paid. Of this. 3c represents the old 
Federal -10 V -tax Actual average 
will not be available until the end. of 
1944 after Federal tax figures for the 
lull year are issued. ■ "• • 

The industry has been able to fig- 
ure the average admission very ac- 
curately since Oct. 1, 1941, when the 
new 10% Federal levy became effec- 
tive, since that extended down to 10c 
admission fee, Even now, it is not 
possible to figure entirely accurately 
what the admission average is be- 
I cause the 20"c levy extends to othei 
I amusements. However; the Treas- 
ury Department recently gave out 
I that about 90',. of the total paid iii, 
' under the 20', tax. represents film 
theatre admissions. . . : '. . 

Surprise feature of. the new; aver- 
age admission "figure is that 8c repre- 
sents the. Federal tax while there 
has been only a Pic increase in the 
price to benefit the exhib. . 



Most of major . fi I in 'companies y.'.i' t. 
stari their new seasons. I iu? .i ». i 
month and early So.iten' wr witu Mm 
greatest backlog of pro'.tuct f if » 
And with . a maioruv of rh.-ii. 1 1 < <■>« - 
is regarded an asset, by Wall -Sti-i'i-j. 
father than a liabilUv, ,i* gecev*Kv 
viewed in financial quarters 

The Street lias looked on ,» hign 
inventory in normal times is vi>pu'..- 
i senting too great a risk ■ for- Tim 
I sound financial - setup of .V jjiot.iv- e. 

lodl'iy .? ' 

A. large inventory or !>a. king of 
suitable product under ■■ present cu-i- 
ditions means that the piodiicp -. 
.distribiitoi'. company h;i-i leJchaj tlu« 
hew ' season with . productions- &"1 
■.tars generally tarried >ut M M .cwi', 
siderably Jess cost than, they cou'd 
be produced tpda> 

.■ Fact that shrewd picttiri? (>>:e..'!i- 
tives spotted their mal« stai v in ov-o- 
ductions months ago, when thcy 
were about to be called to th * coJo. s, > 
means that Several distributor.:} vri'l 
have: topflight ..features with. . thesn 
.stars even though they are rO.v-lyi 
the service, \ 
■ An even- more . pertinent t*jior- 
about the big backlog is- lint •• m v 
majors have stacked -' iiii-comed'es, 
down-torcarth stories ' Tiiid ,»«»>.%f 
dramas in their stockpile Figine:f 
that these would better iii Hi.; c. u- 
cial days ahead -and would ita muh't 
more welcome at the boxoftice ti ;i t 
war stories as soon as tinaee is de- 
clared/ More intelligent scrwii ' • a. 
and yarns that appeal to tha luidd't*- 
aged and older generation are in- 
cluded ju most backlogs Since, i| is 
believed, the postwar iMvuiflse v' : 'l 
have to lean heavily on these t ,-:i 
groups.' ' ' " '.-■•■' ■':".'',) 
. The fact that mosfi eomoatites ltfWe 
fairly denuded their . shelves 61 ■ ■- 
fheirie films also is regaided as'.giiod 
business in financial quarter;! 



SEE SHOW BIZ LABOR 
100% FOR FDR AGAIN 



JANET BLAIR SUES TO 
BREAK COL CONTRACT 



• v . Los Angeles. Ju'y 4. 
. Janet. -Blair, .film actress "' a»!!f 
former orchestra vocal is!;, filed unt 
here to break, her contract veU*» Cj- 
lumbia Pictures. 

Comokijnt "declares her io'-iMV 
manngci. the. late Ale< Ho Wet, Al- 
tered in to- a .- -secret jgietfniC't 
through Which the stiid' j oi-;i !c. a 
certain sum for obtaining her :»e.i /- 
ices. V. * ■ ' "■ r ' : '' .'. 



Richard F. Walsh, president of the 
IATSE. observes that not only will 
teejiad diSMpatecl niore than, halt a j President Roosevelt obtain the sup- 

Lub- \ polt °^ th - IA ' !) ut also theatrical 



$185,000 

The law firm of Willkie, Oiien, 
Otis, Fan &; Gallaghel received 
legal fees totaling $255,000. Wen- 
dell L. Willkie, chairman of the 
board of 20th Century, is a partner 
of this firm. The tirin of Dwlght. 
Hanis. Koegel * Caskey vvere paid! 
Si.»0.0i» in legal fees. „ j 

The incomes reported are gross j 
salaries and do not take into account 
tax deductions 



Wood, Cooper Sever On 
'Jubal Troop' Agreement 

Hollywood. July 4. .1 
Verbal , agr e em e n t be hreefvj-Gary j 
Cooper and Sam Wood tor the film- : 
fig or 'Jubal Troop" foi- Columbia 1 
ielea.se is out. as' result of the stai's* ; 
vecent signing as a produce -actoi 
with International 'Pictures , William 
Goeis and Leo Spitz made an offei 
t i Wood to produce "Jubal" ur.dei 
the International banner with' Co- 
lumlia releasing ;t on a percentage i 
basis, but. Wood turned it down, '■-'■ j 
'There was no personal rut be- 
tween Cooper and myself." Wood ex- ' 
Plained. "It was only a matter of ' 
the. complication, of Gary's two deals, 
and :my desire to stick strictly. to my 
i'bhgutions to Columbia; 



roadshow basis. " > • : .. - 
While Par .sold the picture at 70';, 
of the gross,, it at the same time 
agreed to guarantee a . profit to ,the 
exhibitor ot l'Z'$%, higher than the 
lO".'-.. which. Was guaranteed ■ on the 
same percentage .terms foi- "Gone 
With the Wine." industry's highest 
| grosser to date. Par contracts on 
1 Bell" called tor admission mini- 
| mums of 75c matinees and $1.10 eve- 
nings. .However, on the N. Y. en- 
gagement at the Rivoli, which was 
taken over by Par f<5r the picture's 
run. -the. evening top was $1.65; * t 



million dollars, through mismanage 
men t.-. Tri n z - was . part ne r , i ii the 
liner & Trin? circuit, which pre- 
ceded Baiaban "& Katz in the theatre 
chain field here. Many ot the houses 
are now operated by B & K, 



MPTOA SEEKS TO i 
CRACK TWIN CITIES 



Film Employment Rises 
As Other Jobs Tumble 

, • , Sacramento. . July 4. 

Motion picture employment in- 
created in. May while other Cali- 
toniia industries dropped sharply, 
according to the California State 
Labor' Statistics Bulletin. Average 
weekly earnings for the month in 
film business were, S73.02. compared 
with $72.78. lor April and $6637 tor 
May. 194;}. , ' ■ 

Other, industries-. in the state regis- 
tered - a decrease ' oi 36:10.0 ".age 
earners for Mav.' .1944, compared 
with the' same moiUi last yea 
Heaviest • losses were in , airci.iit 
pkuU< and .shipyards. 



unions of the Congress of Industrial 
Organ i/atioris Expectation is that 
before election dav rolls around that ] 
FDR may seek to cinch the labor j 
vote . through administrative moves, j 
designed ,.,'o appease- the rank-iind- 
file of union mcinbers jn all indiis- | 
tries, :i:':/i^..''.-w„i-'.-^"'- i-J'j 
• Believed that one step,)!* may take 
will he lais'ing the wage ceiling of 
the so-called ' Little Steel" /of inula.' 
■tp permit increases of more than ■ 
Cpiisiderabla . pressure has 
on this salary 
restriction, including among .film in- 
dustry unions . ■ 



■'.''.■-■■'■ M.nneapoiis. July 4 
I Th'p ':na(io'ii a. [.Motion Picture Thj 
tfe Owners, of America is trying to. 15 
break into this terrnoi y for the first - been brought to be, 
time, in opposition :o the North Cen- 
tral Allied, twin-citv . group, ' fuirl 
No it h west A filed. I na c f ive o u t-o? 
toi'.'ii- association. Two latter b'cidie. 

"conimmoe'"^ indeperdcils h, S. SkoUraS jft HuddleS 

been appointed to toutact indies', out- j 
side t\y iii. cities, and, deferiuiire ' J10V '. 
mail}' '.-are willing to joii^ . ■;. ■.■.;•'' < . ,f 



•;r: 



No Rest for Durante' 



Holh • ood. Ji::v 4 
Jimmy Durante, current iv dou- 
bling in*. "Ziegfcld Follies" an.d ' - Mit- 
j iit foi Millions ' at Mctio. di ai', s t - o 
[.more chores when lie; "f ind- up,.j.i'i.- 
i dual actj.v'i 

j Waiting fui •coni.e: 101 rotu.-f.1n 
' ' BriH-i'^n Be;it'h ' av I "Ca-jo'jges and 
(Kings" -both' Joe P'J-tei'iiak prdduc- 

■ tioiis."' .'' ■r- '.','"'.■".> .-.y 



With Zanuck, Schenck 

\ , : .■ Holly • nod July 4 

j ,Mfi'.<. ' ; his first Hollywood ap- 
Fpe n .li'ce. spite, his return from Eng- 
laii'.l- So; 1 os Skouias blew into town 
over the weekend for huddles with 
(Diuivl Zanuck and Joseph M.. 
, Schenck over, campaigns for ' Wil- 
; son"* and blher new product, 

Wfth Skouras wer.? Tom O'Con- 
> noi , vei'ijoc tf\ thai of world di.s-. 
tri'ouli.ou: Bill Kuppur,. saliVs . man'- 
agei. Charles SchlalfiT, ad manager, 
■yuri Ju'r< . Field,, siefd. exploitation 

hirjd. ,'.■.'•.• ■'. ; 'i 




'-.TraOfli Marl: ttc-RiMi'^.i"! 

v(>i:xr>\:<< tit Mm-- w«a" ; 

i'ill«lis!n.il Hci-klv l.y V.A«lf l V; 

S'(i SSl'.'pr.niuii. f'i '.v.!.-.., 
l.*i «>-i 4(Stli «., »» I'm 1. 





My •'■"'.','.. 


A.li 1:0 1 1 . .Hi ■ I'D'.' 


K"-' ■' '.*' 1 


Kljijjfo' ( oal?'. . ,■..,', . . .. - . 


.*.., e !n- f ^le- 


voi/ira r-^^"" 


; : ;. v /; No.- -4 ; 


INDEX 




Bills v; :.:,;V.:/':':': i ; 




CI.,-,. 




■ F ,'ri lie vie 




Itoii-j. Rev' . v 




Inside— -Leg 1. 


.. .. .it 


■ Lc; ■ " iu! . 


.. ; *..;.,'■/? i. . 


'LHCiTii 


-.',,,,, |» 


Mil- C - ' . ,' K • ■ 


,';"'.;.\ . .. ;:'t 


'Nevr Acts , - .',,/' 


vV, ;'..,■'. ii 


Night Club ■ 


" r ' * i -. 


N:' ht •■> 




Obiluary 




. Ore host, as ... 


,. .. .. ' , ;!f 1 


Pictures , " , 


... , --. ., : > 


Rafio . . ■ ':"). .. 


* - ':■ .' "' ^ ;**'-*.' 


Raclr< Rev 1 ' 11 . . 


'in 


Fran it .SeitJ i ; ■ , .'" . 




Television , . ; 


. . ;!» 


Vaudeville . . .. . 




Wciv Activities. . . » ,1 




\ \ Mill ( -1 



.! l:u •liSIii'it H 

jiiiils'- yns 

tin a Vi-ai- 



;$1-V, E'f.i.c'i:/- 



4 



P%3UETY 



Wednesday, July 5, 1944 




*TH£ MAW OF ftlHITOHW' ANP 'THE MAlXftF FALCON' 
ARE THS SAM* KIND or PICTOfc* • 



ii 






It's From Eric Ambler's Famed Mystery Masterpiece. With 

SYDNEY ZACHARY FAYE PETER 

GREENSTREET- SCOTT- EMERSON • LORRE 



VICTOR 

RANCEN 



; JACK L, WARNER, Executives Pcoducf 

: ; Directed by Produced by Sewn p\n by 

JEAN NEGULESCQ * HENRY BLANKE * f„,k . 
M AMERICA WAITS FO« MOVIE OA y", JUIV 6tW 



Agitate for Better Price Range 
Between First Runs and Subsequents 



Detroit, July 4. • •*>• 
Agitation has come up from ex- 
hibitors here lor a better price range 
between the subsequent-run houses. 
The move for an increase for the 
second runs is headed by Sol Krim, 
whov is seeking to have their scale 
moved from 55c evenings to 60c, with 
a proportionate increase in the 44c 
price for matinees. 

This still would permit a differ- 
ence of 25c between the second and 
first-runs which charge 85c regularly 
and 95c for stage shows. However; 
the quarrel is not with the. gap be- 
tween the first and second-runs but 
on the close margin -between second 
and key-runs. Krim charges that 
when the newi general city prices 
were set up there was not enough 
spread between the subsequent-runs 
with the second-runs taking a 46c ad- 
mission plus a 9c , tax to go to 55c, 
while the key-runs took a net ad- 
mission of 37c plus a 7c tax to go to 
44c. Many of the key-runs also 
raised a cent or more to be a round 
number. 

The result, Krim declared, is . that 
biz unfairly tends toward the sec- 
ond-runs with the inequity of the 
price range further reflected in the 
fact that the second-run. matinee 
price is 44c, which is the same price 
as the regular admission at the key- 
runs: ■/' .. . 



Jack Warner Added 
5,000 WB, Zukor's Par 
Buy; Other Deals 

Philadelphia, July 4. 

Jack L. Warner's acquisition of 
8,000 shares of Warner Bros. $5 par 
common highlighted transactions in 
fiJm industry stocks during the 
period from May ' 11 to June 10 re- 
ported last week by the Securities A 
Exchange Commission here. War- 
ner's holdings in WB stock now total 
205,000 shares. - 

Adolph Zukor reported the pur- 
chase of 120 shares of Paramount 
common bringing his total holdings 
to 500 shares. > 

Activity in Monogram pictures 
stock included the sale of 600 shares 
by Samuel Broidy, Hollywood, ^re- 
ducing his total to 3,800. William B. 
Hurlbut, Detroit, reduced his hold- 
ings by sale of one share making his 
total 3,363. 

David Bernstein, New York, sold 
BOO shares of Loew's, Inc., common, 
reducing his holdings to 19,050. 
.. Loew's continuing buying up stock 
.of Loew's Boston theatres adding 
12 shares to make its total 121,118. 

Largest film stock transaction was 
the sale of 10,000 shares of Trans- 
Lux common by- Percy N. Furber, 
New. York making his total 14,320 
shares of the security.. ' 

Robert Lehman, New York bank- 
er, reported holding 2,000 shares of 
20th Century-Fox common. 



CHI OPS AND EXHIBS 
SEE EARLY ACCORD 

. ; Chicago, July 4. 
Following a series of meetings in 
the past two weeks between theatre 
owners and. officials of the Chicago 
Moving Picture Operators Union, 
Local 110,, indications point to an 
early amicable settlement of the 
problems involved within the next 
week or two.. Another meeting be- 
tween the two. factions Is scheduled 
for Thursday : (4) after which record 
mendations will be put up to the 
union membership. 

Among the issues in the talking 
stage is a salary increase, which,.;of. 
course, would have to be passed' by 
the War Labor Board; the matter; of 
vacations (the union ,i§ asking for 
two each year); improvement of 
sanitary conditions and elimination 
of the 30 minute before show re- 
quirement. Union is asking salary 
for these 30 minutes claiming that 
since the war it has been necessary 
for operator to work during these 30 
minutes in keeping up the machines 
and sometimes inspecting film.. 

Conducting the negotiations for 
the theatres are Jack Kirsch, Morris 
Leonard, Eddie Silverman and James 
E. Coston. Representing the union 
are Gene Atkinson, business man- 
ager, Clarence Jalas, asst. business 
manager, and Daniel Carmell, attor- 
ney for the operators. 



m CANT RECOVER 
FROM CITY OF CHI 

V; Chicago, July 4. 

Balaban & Katz denied a new trial 
by Judge Cornelius J. Harrington, 
In suit against the City of Chicago 
because of alleged damage suffered 
by the Chicago and Roosevelt the- 
atres in construction of the subway. 

The company asked $32,000 dam- 
ages from the City claiming that dur- 
ing,, construction of the subway, 
which is in close proximity to both 
theatres, foundations were weakened 
at both. theatres and company under- 
went additional expense in upkeep of 
the . buildings. Judge ■ Harrington 
ruled for the city on May 26 and 
B&K moved for a new trial. :".'-■:"'"..• 



'Child Bride' Tabooed 
By N. Y. State Censors 

Albany, July 4. 

The first motion picture appeal 
filed with the Board, of Regents in 
more than a year and a half, result- 
ed ina denial of a petition by Moe 
Kernuuv operating as. Astor Place 
Film Exchange for a license for 
"Quid Bride." On April 20 Irwin" 
Esmond, director of the motion pic- 
ture division, State Education De- 
partment, refused to grant a seal 
of approval, on the grounds that 
the film "is indecent, immoral, in- 
human, would tend to corrupt morals 
and would tend to incite to crime." 

On May 13, 1944, Kerman ap- 
pealed from Esmond's ruling. In his 
petition, Kerman declared, "There is 
nothing censorable in the picture 
that cannot be removed if neces- 
sary." He argued, "There is nothing 
indecent in the picture. That it de- 
picts events permitted by law in 
various states. That whoever does 
wrong in the picture is punished." 
Esmond, in- his response filed with 
the Board of Regents, said, "It is 
difficult for respondent to compre- 
hend what is meant by the petitioner 
that 'there is nothing censorable. . . .' 
There is so much in the picture that 
is censorable that if it were re- 
moved, there would be no picture 
left." '. 



Studio Contracts 



Hollywood, July 4, 
Ann Dvorak signed by Republic, 
Ayn Rand, writer, signed by Hal 

B. Wallis: ? V'.''';'::"-: 

Martha Montgomery's player op- 
tion lifted by 20th-Fox, /: 

Jeanne Crain renewed by 20th- 
Fox. • '.' .'' 

Wanda Tuchbck, writer, 20th-Fox. 

John Mock, story editor, Hal Wal- 
lis; , .... \ - : : 
' David Horwich, writer, optioned 
Paramount. 

E. D. Leshin, producer, renewed 
Paramount/- ,-.'•'• 

Byron Poindexter,- player, op- 
tioned, Par, ' 

Ellen Drew, player, RKO. 

Jason Robards, player, optioned by 
RKO. , ■•; 

Celeste Holm, legiter, 20th-Fox. 
. Frank Dunne,, radio announcer, 
20th-Fox. ,.■',-. 

Frank G ruber, writer, by RKO. 

Shemp Howard.^ four-picture deal, 
GoFumbia. , : 

Michael FesSier, producer-writer, 
optioned at U. __ JS! a«»-i«w_ l„Li 



Can't Take It, Eh? 

• Hollywood, July 4. 

Indie film company, known for its hurried production, recently 
decided to run daily rushes for the first time in its history, to keep 
the execs in touch with the daily filming. One of the producers, a 
whimsical fellow, injected a touch of humor into the first day's rushes 
by inserting a fake, sequence showing an actor and his secretary dis- 
cussing the company execs and telling how little they knew about the 
production of pictures. , 

After one day's rushes the front office called them off. 



Await D. of J.'s Move 
On New Decree Draft* 
Schine Case Up in Aug. 

The final draft of the consent de- 
cree, embracing cancellations, elimi- 
nation of pooling arrangements and 
other proposals already announced, 
is in the hands of Tom C. Clark, as- 
sistant attorney-general of the Dept. 
of Justice, for consideration of Fran- 
cis Biddle, attorney-general. Mean- 
time, attorneys state the - next move 
must come from Washington but that 
there has been no word as to how 
the D. of J. regards the revised pro- 
posals nor when an opinion or deci- 
sion may be expected. 

The decree recommendations of 
the distributors has hot been printed, 
nor is there any im.rnediatejntention 
to do so. New proposals were-rnere- 
ly given Clark, together with a. copy 
of the draft which had been* pre- 
pared in January, so that compari- 
sons showing the added concessions 
of the Big Five could be made. In- 
the event the D. of 3. approves the 
new draft, it will then be. presented 
before Federal Judge Henry W. God- 
dard in N. Y., who had jurisdiction 
over the original decree, for finaliz- 
ing- . 

The anti-trust' suit of the Govern- 
ment against the Schine Bros, circuit 
of around 150 houses, which distribs 
are watching with Interest, has been 
put over to August. Distribs, how- 
ever, are no longer a part of this 
action, decree group first having 
been withdrawn and later 6n the so- 
called Little Three, United Artists, 
Universal, and Columbia, - 



Reelect Rathvon, Odium, 
With Entire RKO Slate 

, N. \ Peter Rathvon was reelected 
president of RKO Corp. and Floyd 
B. Odium renamed chairman of. the 
board at .the "initial . meeting of the 



Rydge Plans U.S. Trip 
For Aussie Pic Chain 

Sydney, July 4. ' 

Norman B. Rydge, chairman of 
Greater Union Theatres, one of Aus- 
tralia's leading film theatre circuits* 
is planning a trip to the U. S. on an 
important product deal. 

Harry Hunter,. Paramount's man- 
aging director in Australia, also may 
visit America about the same time. 



HARDIE MEAKIN NOW 
RKO'S D.C. DIV. MGR. 

Hardie Meakiri, manager of RKO 
Keith's, Washington, for 14 years, is 
now operating the house under di- 
rect orders from N. Y., which vir- 
tually makes him a division man- 
ager for Washington. 

Under the new arrangements, 
Meakin reports direct to Bill How- 
ard, assistant to Solly Schwartz, 
who's in charge of out-of-town op- 
erations on a far-flung front for the 
hioi - Formerly Meakin reported to 
Jim Brennan, when- latter was a zone 
manager in the field. Brennan now 
is general manager of the RKO 
chain.. 

A Washington vet, Meakiri was for 
nearly nine years a "Variety" mugg, 
being a regular member of the staff 
covering the nation's capital. 



Hopper Hopping L. A. 
To D. C. Via N. Y. to S. A. 

Hollywood, July 4. 

Harold Hopper; president, of "the 
film section* of the Coordinator of 
Inter-American Affairs, is heading 
for Washington Sunday (9), via N. Y. 
He is going east to confer with Nel- 
son Rockefeller, and other execs, as 
well as. State Dept. officials with 
reference to his trip to South 
America, where he will make a sur- 
vey of the film situation. 

Hopper plans to leave around Aug. 
1, -and will be away about 10 : weeks. 



Metro's 100% U.S. Screen 
Representation a Record 

The 20th anniversary celebration 
Of Metrb marked the first time that 
any distributor ever had 100% rep- 
resentation on all the screens of the 
country. Anniversary week, which 
ran June 22-28, desclosed that a to- 
tal of 16.459 theatres played at least 
one subject, feature or short, bear- 
ing the Metro label. 

The company's brandies were 
tjrxed to capacity in handling the 
amount of film involved, a total of 
53,474 individual shipments of 153,- 
201,000 feet of film having been made 
during the week. 

William R. Rodgers, v. p. over sales, 
pointed out that it had been made 
clear to the field forces that this 
was not a drive for revenue. That 
j. the exhibitors of the country should 
respond in a 100% manner is almost 
unbelievable, he added. 



306 Ops Want to Tilt 
Century Chain's Scale 

Though the no-strike pledge of the 
IATSE prevents it from taking dras- 
. . tic measures of pre-war days, which 
directorate flowing the annual | served as a mighty weapon in organ- 
stockholders' meeting last week in j izational work, Local 306, Moving 
N. Y. Board also reelected all other ' Picture Machine Operators of N. Y., 
bhTcersrW^ to line 



RKO Bullishness Renews 
Reports of Stock Divvy) secretary 

Recent- strength in RKO common 
shares which sent the stock well 
above $10 has given credence to Wall 
Street reports that the corporation 
might declare a common dividend. 
Although the corporation now is 
paying a regular quarterly divvy on 
the preferred, company , denies any 
early intention of making any decl- 
laration on the common: 

A year ago any talk of a preferred 
stock distribution was discounted, 
but the initial divvy was declared 
only a few months, later. Ability of 
RKO to obtain substantial revenue 
from comparatively low-budget pic- 
tures has enhanced, its' earnings pos- 
sibilities for* the present. With thea- 
tre revenue still zooming along at 
its recent high levels. 



vice-chairman of the board; Ned E. 
Depinet, vice-president (he's presi- 
dent of RKO Distributing Co.), Gor- 
don E. Youngmans v.p. and general 
counsel), Malcolm Kingsberg, v.p. 
and treasurer. Garrett Van Wagner, 
comptroller, and J. Miller Walker, 



Usual quarterly $1.50 "dividend- for 
the quarter ending next July 31 was 
declared on RKO preferred. It's pay- 
able Aug. 1 to holders of record July 
20. 



Musical 'Cimarron' 



Hollywood, July 4. 
Plans to remake "Cimarron" as a 
musical have been announced by 
Metro, with James Mcltori iii mind 
for the lead role as vocalizing Yan- 
cey Cravatt. Understood that the 
success of "Oklahoma" points the 
way to a tunefilm version of the 
Edna Ferber novel. 

Picture was originally made by 
RKO in 1931 with Irene Dunne and 
Richard Dix in the co-star spots. 



up the UeKWry circuit of Brooklyn 
and Long Island before the no-strike 
commitment is lifted. 

Herman Gelber, president Of 306, 
who automatically became president 
of Empire State, whose members are 
under 10-year contract in Century's 
approximate 40 houses, when a 
merger arrangement was_eff ected, - is 
reported- pitepa«'ng-to"seek^^ 
with Century to bring the scales up 
to 306 standards despite various 
pending court actions. These include 
one, since appealed by 306, which 
prevents dissolution of Empire, while 
another was brought by non -em- 
ployed members of Emp with a view 
to upsetting the merger. 

Meantime, 306 is trying to arrange 
a deal With the. Skouras and Rand- 
force circuits in the Greater N. Y. 
territory for the payment of a full 
hour's time to projectionists who are 
required to report to their booths 
a half hour early in order to pre- 
pare for the opening. Negotiations 
are also on for a new contract to 
supersede the one now in force, 
which runs to September, 1945. , 



Boris Morros' Plans 

Boris Morros is east on a twofold 
mission in connection with his new 
recording business and the filming 
of the: stage play, "Of Thee I Sing." 

Picture will, be produced .under 
Producing Artists banner in associa- 
tion with David LOew and Arthur 
Lyotjs for release by United Artists: 

L.A. to N. Y/ 

Robert Armstrong. ' :, 

Don Bernard. 

Anne Brenton. 

Lt. Col. Emanuel Cohen. 

Laird Cregar. '• •fa^f . 

William Davis. . . ; 

Murray Feil. ' .•> ■•,' 

Walter Gould. 

Major John Hubbell. ,„. 

Stan Joselpff. - 

Ella Logan. 

Jack McGowan. u ■''' ■[': :■>'>. 
^John Meehan. 
"-NormaTi^tetray: 
Boris Morros." ':"'■■ 
Ella Mae Morse. 
Seymour Ncbenzal. 
Martha Percilla. 

Joyce Reynolds. "--:. : -'..' "'V : '' 
John Sutherland.' 
Paul Warrick, , : ; 
Dave Wolper. 



N.Y. to L.A. 

■Harry Akst. 
Helen Brooks. '•'.■{■•.'■'.•''.■ 
Jean Dairy mple. 
Fanny Holtzman. " 
Al Jolson. ■ 
Charles B. Maddock. 
Edward Perkins... . 
S. W. Singer. 



Handwriting Experts 
Called by 20th-Fox In 
-Alexander' Plot Suit 

St. Louis, July 4. 

Charging that false testimony, pur- 
suant to a deliberate plan to perpe- 
trate a fraud upon the U. S. District 
Court here, 20th Century- Fox Film 
Corp, last week filed a motion in 
Judge George H. Moore's court to re- 
open the hearing in the plagiarism 
suit filed against it by Mrs. Marie 
Cooper ..pejhlw. JMetltMus^ 
formerly" of St. Louis, and now be- 
lieved residing in California. 

Last March Judge Moore, in a 
memorandum opinion,- hSa; ; irTeffect, 
that there were so many '-striking 
similarities between scenes in "Al- 
exander's Ragtime Band" and the 
plaintiff's unpublished novel, "Love 
Girl," that the defendant, must have 
had access to the novel before starts 
ing on the production of the flicker. 
Mrs. Swanson testified that she had 
sent her novel to the U. S. Copyright 
office in 1943 and her application for 
a copyright had been rejected. She 
also said she sent a clean copy, bear- 
ing ho alterations or corrections, of 
the same book to Laurence D'Orsay, 
a literary critic in California on Jan. 
21, 1937. She further testified that oh 
the same date she mailed an exact 
copy of the manuscript sent', to 
D'Orsay in a sealed package ad- 
dressed to herself and that the pack- 
age remained sealed until June, 1941, 
after she had filed the suit, when the 
seals were broken and the package 
was opened under a Court order. 

The new motion charges that there 
is convincing proof that the .manu- 
script did riot remamleaTed^naTin- - 
broken from Jan. 1937 to June; 1941, 
arid this is substantiaed by the pen- 
cilled notes on the alleged D'Orsay 
copy which are identical to those 
found in the copy opened by the 
court order. , . ' . 

The assistance of a nationally 
known handwriting expert waa 
sought after the trial and his affidavit 
containing many photogaphs, the 
film company asserts, proves conclu- 
sively that the changes made onitlje'_ 
alleged sealed copy were made some 
time after the so-called D'Orsay copy 
was returned to Mrs. Swanson. Other 
affidavits filed in the motion for the 
reopening of the case are those of 
D'Orsay and Mrs. Mabel Malone, 
formerly of St. Louis, which the de- 
fendant claims prove that neither the 
so-called D'Orsay manuscript nor the 
.so-called sealed manuscript were sent 
to either of them by Mrs. Swanson. 
The motion further charges that the 
two manuscripts in evidence were • 
rewritten after Mrs. Swanson had 
seen the flicker in St. Louis, in Affg., 
1938, and that she had probably read 
reviews of it before actually seeing 
the picture. . 

The motion asserts that "as ex- 
amples, the manuscripts in court re- 
ferred to an Armistice Day celebra- 
tion in St. Louis in 1938, and they 
further refer to a song. "Oh, Johnnie," 
which, published in 1937, had, after 
a short period of popularity, laid 
dormant until revived in 1939. The 
incidents that the court found simi- 
lar to portions of the picture do not 
fit in the plaintiff's novel and appear . 

V-'. •\>n': /'j- '-■ ■' t : .'..,:'■.. 

to Acive meii-wtfhy ■ft.jtriccl^:^™, ■ 
novel to support Mrs. S'warison's •: 
claim of plagiarism," 20th-Fox'f 
charge continues, „•"..', 

A hearing on the motion was held 
Friday (30) arid the documentary 
evidence was offered by John F. Cas- 
key and John R. McCullough, general 
counsel for the film corp., and pre- 
pared by Edwin P. Kilroe, copyright: 
expert for the company. They were 
assisted by Samuel W. Fordyce and 
Thomas W. White, St. Louis at* 
torneys. J. Porter Henry, St. Louis 
lawyer is representing the plaintiff 
who, according to a statement made 
in court, has remarried since the suit 
was filed and is now known as Mrs. 
Marie Cooper Oehler Dieckhaus 
Swanson. The statement was made 
that she has been married five times 
but one married name is missing. 

Judge Moore ordered attorneys for 
both sides to submit briefs prior to 
July 12 at which time he will take 
the motion under advisement. At- 
torney Henry bitterly fought against 
the move to reopen the case. 



Wednesday, July S, 1944 



INTRIGUE UNDE 
WORLD FAMOUS PERSONA 




ROMANCE IN THE WHITE HOUl 
U YEARS IN THE MAKING 

SURGING PASSIONS 



Operating under special roadshow policy for this engagement 

All AMERICA WAITS FOR FREE MOVIE DAY, JULY 6th! THE FIGHTING 5th VICTORY CUMAXl 



Wednesday, July 5, 1941 



i i f •'? * s * i' , .'. i. .1.:' 





in K «»*« s C,,y TAKE IT OR ***** 

o short w« ll J or " 



CENTURY-FOX 



"KFVFR STOP. TILL YOU'RE OVER THE: TOP! FIGHTING FIFTH WAR LOAN I" 



We.lnrsday, July 5, 1944 



Pfi&IETY 



PICTURES 



Summer Foldos Very Few, Although 
Freon Shortages May Force Some 



Despite cooling difficulties, : the 4>. 
tight manpower situation and main-, 
tenanee. problems, summer closings 
are so low; in number this year as io 
be almost infinitesimal, indicating 
that's new low of shutterings for all 
time will be established." ■ 

The vast Paramount chain of over j 
1,000 theatres is among three major ! 

. circuits which have hot closed a 
single theatre tb date. Leonard H;, 
Goldenson,' v. p. over theatre' opera?- 
tions for Par, states also that no 
shutdowns are presently scheduled, 
though pointing out that the shortage 
of freon might, -.possibly-' force some 
temporary -shutdown's, particularly if 
some, theatres in hot areas run out, 
of tlve cooling fluid. •However, not- 
able i s th e la c t "t h a t e ven air of Pa r "s 
southern houses are open, including 

. its app'ro'jtiiijafc dozen drive-ins.,. 
James Brcnnan. general manager 
of We" RKO circuit, which in former 
years has darkened several houses, 
declares- they are not doing so this 
year, while, so f :i r. also,, none of the 
approximately 500 houses of the. Na- 
tional Theatres t20th-Fox), chain 
have closed down. ; : . 
Loew's lias only one closing, the 

: Lyric, Bridgeport, Conn.', which gets 
padlocked every summer. ' Contrast- 
ed with the numerous annual sum- 
mer closings . of. former years, War- 
ners lias only four summer . shut- 
downs: the Tremont. Ansonia, Conn,; 
Grove, Clinton, Mass.; Capitol, Dan- 
bury, . Conn/, and the Roosevelt, 
Jamestown. N. . Y: However, it is 
closing the Wisconsin in Sheboygan. 
Wis., until further notice but does not 
classify this, as a summer closing, and 
also is shuttering, the . Griswold in 
Troy, N. Y„ but in latter case be- 
cause repai.rs. art necessitated due to. 
a recent fire. . >■ 

The closings among independents 
are also at an astonishing minimum, 
according to available information. 
Th* Brandt circuit, largest in the 
Greater N. Y. area and surrounding 
territory, which' formerly closed sev- 

, eral theatres' during the hot weather 
spell, this year has so far shuttered 
none at all. nor, are any on the iiii ? 
inediate schedule for darkening. 

■CLIFFS' GOT RECORD 
780G AT MUSIC HALL 

"The While Cliffs of Dover," which 
closed a seven-week run at the Mn- 
sie Hill. N. Y.. last. Wednesday night 
(28) grossed $780,000 on the engage- 
ment, the highest figure ever at- 
tained by any picture in the history 
of the industry over a period of 
seven weeks. It also established a 
record high for tnat length of time 
in rental back lb Metro, ...' 

Only four other pictures have 
played the Hal] as. long as sfeven 
weeks, those going that long in addi- 
tion to -White Cliffs" being "Ma- 
dame Curie" and "Mr. Lucky," while 
' Mrs. Miniver" went .11 and ""Ran- 
dom Harvest" 10. "Cliffs," though 
wilhdrawi W ,w;hile. still doing, a very 
hi? business. ' outgrossed all' Others 
on the " seven weeks by at least 
$50,000. ■'< "■ . * 

Metro, which is selling "Cliffs" 
smgly under a sliding scale deal 
.ranging from a minimum of 25% -to 
a maximum of 50%, pulled- the .pic- 
ture out of the Hall because it wants 
to make it available to the entire 
market without delay due to the 
timeliness of iLs setting. Metro is 
ni ak ing-.-ff ava i I able at regular ad- 
missions but at the beginning is tak- 
ing deals that call for only week 
-ltands..or belter.' 

MgMi^i^.kili-^rmm was. closed 
3^fe«' w 'th' Gits S. Eyssell, managing 

. director of the. Hall, for "Dragon 
peed." which will" follow the current 
'Once Upon a Time." '■-'.:!' 



Thorpe Wants Biog Back 

Hollywood, July 4. 

Jim Thorpe, who sold his life story 
to Metro years ago, is trying to buy 
it back for filming purposes. 

Greatest of American' Indian ath- 
letes has contacted; an indie producer 
ready, to make the picture, titled 
"Ked Son of Carlisle." ,V,"'"'K' • 



MPRF Report Shows Big 
Increase in Assets 

Hollywood, July 4, 
_ Motion Picture Relief Fund, at its 
WW annual mooting, proclaimed 
W.3 its most successful year, with a 
Ml_ance sheet showing: net assets, or 
*1.»81.281. «an increase of $229,700 
over 1942. Gross income from radio 
wr. the year amounted to. $456,329.- 
a»d general .revenue.-. outside of ra- 
<?»«..; reached $415,153. donated bv 10.- 
subscribers. 
Medical report showed 4,123 pa- 
W* .during 194.1, .with 124 major 
operations performed free. Plans for 
i»ture additions to the Motion Pic - 
■.»»e Country House include a major 
:*m . minor - duty: and 60 hospital 
• ooitis, ., ean Hersholt. prexy. and 
fthet officers were reelected. 



Guizar's Life for Rep 

Hollywood, July 4. 

Tito Gui.zar, Mexican singer and 
guitarist, .is writing his autobiog- 
raphy as basis for a Htmusical; to' be 
produced at Republic, , where . he is 
under contract. . ' ■ 

Film will be packed with Mexican 
and South American tunes, aimed at 
stimulating trade south of the . bor- 
der. . :••'.;.': . •■'.•■.•'•".''•'' v.''' ' '.•.-■ '•■:■ 



PRC Sets Deal With 
NBC for Telev. Film; 
$7,385,000 Budget 

. PRC Will have a $7,385,000 budget 
for its 1944-45 program, Leon Prom- 
ke,ss. v.p. in charge of ..production, 
announced at annual sales conven- 
tion last week at the Essex House. 
N. Y.. - 1 .-.-'''-'* ,'- V '.:;'■:':' 
. It s the company's- biggest budget, 
and comes from pathe Industries. 
Inc.,-: a. coalition -of four PRC com- 
panies and three Pathe companies 
effected last week. 

- PRC w'ill release between 40 and 
45 pictures .including westerns on 
its 1944-45 program. Schedule will 
be kept open for additional features. 
Company. will deliver about half this 
amount, others coming from its eight 
production units. Fromkess said that 
PRC had made a dea- with NBC on 
the Coast to produce a film that 
would'be televised after commercial 
run's, are completed. Picture will-be 
based on the life of Dr. Jose Rozza 
patriot martyr of- the Philippines, 
who! helped free the islands from 
Spain. NBC plans' to broadcast the 
story of the film in three half-hour 
programs on its "Pacific News" series 
simultaneously with the film open- 
ings both shortwave and on regular 
broadcast, 



WB C0NTRACTEES LIST 
HITS ALL-TIME MARK 

Hollywood, July 4. 

Contract list at Warners climbed 
Jto .an • all-time] High, moving into July 
With 25 star,s, 55 feature "players, 16 
directors and 14 producers on the 
payroll. Stars include Humphrey 
Bogart, Bette Davis. Rosalind Rus- 
sell. Barbara Stanwyck. Jack Benny 
Jack Carson, Nancy Coleman, Robert 
Alda. Joan Crawford, Olivia de 
Havilland. Errol Flynn, " John Gar 
field. Geraldine Fitzgerald, Paul 
Henreid. Sydney Greenstreet, Walter 
Huston. Priscilla Lane, Joan Leslie, 
Paul Lukas, Ida Lupino, Jane Wy- 
nian, Ann Sheridan, Alexis Smith, 
Dennis Morgan and Irene Manning. 

Contracted directors are Michael 
Curtiz, David Butler, Delmar Daves 
Curtis Bernhardt. Robert Florey. 
Peter Godfrey, Edmund Goulding. 
Howard Hawks, James V. Kern, .lean 
Negulesco. I.eroy Prinz, Irving Rap- 
per, ' Vincent Sherman, Herman 
Shunilin, . Raoul Walsh and Sam 
Wood. 



Frank Smith Succeeds 
In Tom Gorman's Spot 

.:. { Chicago, July 4. 
Frank Smith, manager,, of the Pal- 
ace, has been upped to RKO theatre 
division manager in this territory 
following -Jlie resignation of Tom 
Gorman. Lstlei '» plans are lndefi- 
mtt. at th time Many Schreieei 
who, lias, been RKO eity manager at 
Columbus, ; O.i has been brought- in 
as Smith's assistant. 

;Smith has been with the- Orph.cum 
and RJ-CO circuits for 23 years. 17 as 
manager' of the Palace here.' Previ- 
oiiilv .he was. manager of the Or- 
pheum. Denver, and the old Lincoln 
Hippodrome. Chicago. As division 
manager lie. will ' have supervision 
oyer Chicago. Champaign, 111., Kan- 
sas,Gity.. Des:Moincs and St. Paul... 
■ Gorman, many years with the old 
Keith circuit and later RKO, is re- 
ported .considering a return- to the 
circt'ts. business.;' He was in 'the-- -big- 
top field prior to going into theatre 
management . ., -'-, 

Besides, managing the . Palace. 
Smith Will supervise the Grand, 
moreover theatre.. '\ .,'■''■.■''' ' ..-' 

At the' same time. RKO has aiaeed 
John Redmond, associate- of the late 
Mort H- Singer, in charge of the 16 
Singer houses following a deal un-'. 
dei- "'which RKO purchased the 90%. 
interest of the Singer estate in the 
circuit, . under an option permitting 
i; to, acquire tl'i'e-house,i 100%-: . 



Special Master Advises 
Dismissal Par Suit Vs. 
J. H.Cooper, Interstate 

Dismissal of Paramount Pictures 
suit against Rialto. Inc.. J. H. Cooper 
Enterprises, Inc., and Interstate The- 
atres. Inc.. all Colorado corporations, 
was advised by Special Master Fran- 
cis W, H, A^iams, ill a report filed 
last week (28) in N. Y. Federal 
Court. Action also against Joseph. H. 
Cooper, president of the three com- 
panies was not acted upon. Adams 
was appointed by Federal Judge 
Murray Hulbert last October to con- 
due*, hearings oh a defense motion 
that they are not within the jurisdic? 
tioir of the court and are not trans; 
acting business in this state. 

Paramount's action seeks adjudi- 
cation of their rights to 50% of 
Class B stocks in Rialto and Cooper 
-Enterprises, also --a quarter-: interest 
in Class A stock in Interstate. Cooper 
is alleged to have breached a 1933 
agreement, -ulider which he was in- 
duced to go into Colorado and re- 
organize and a<jfluire certain theatres 
oh a 50-50 basis. Instead he acquired 
them under, his own name, Par 
charged. . : ■ 

Special master was -to decide 
whether each ; of the corporate de- 
fendants were doing business. in New 
York; Adams found- that Rialto was 
a real estate company, owning two 
theatres; -.which • they leased to the 
other companies. Interstate operat- 
ing three theatres iii Colorado,, and 
Cooper Enterprises, operating six 
theatres. Adams reported: "Their 
activities appeared to be confined to 
Colorado and Nebraska and other 
points outside of New York." 

Adams also reported that Cooper 
is president of the companies.- re- 
ceives a salary from Interstate and 
Enterprises, none from Rialto, and 
transacts his business when in New 
York".' at whatever, film company 
Oiftdfe he finds himself. '. •', " - 



FourN. Y. Buying-Booking Combos 
Now Represent Total of 191 Houses 



MacMurray to Play 'Rick' 

: - : Hollywood, July 4. 

Title role in "Rickenbacker: the 
Story of an- American" long delayed 
Win field Sheehan* production at 20th- 
Fox, goes to Fred MacMurray, as his 
first starrer on the Westwood lot. 

MacMurray recently washed up a 
long Paramount contract with "Mur- 
der, He Says." , 



DAVE MARTIN. BUYS 
TIVOLI (AUSSIE) STOCK 

'.-,. '• Sydney, July 4. 

Theatre Holdings. Ltd.. headed by 
Dave Martin, which also owns the 
Minerva, legit theatre here, has 
bought out the stock of George Dick- 
enson in the Tivoli circuit. Dicken- 
son was chairman of directorate, and 
Martin is reportedly stepping into 
his old spot. Wallace Parnell re- 
mains as general manager artd" pro- 
ducer.- -. ' 

Martin's post-war plans call for 
importing top-rank U. S. and Brit- 
ish talent to. play .his new circuit. 
Also dealing^ with outstanding radio 
and nightclub interests for acts. Ini- 
tial step in this direction was the 
purchase, of the Roosevelt nightclub 
here, which will giye him material to 
double into the Minerva. Martin's 
plans call for air-travel for Broad- 
way legit stars here for a minimum 
of 13 weeks. 

Those with stock interest in Tivoli 
deal with Martin include Dan Casey 
and Here Mclntyie. of Universal; 
the Gus Mclhtyje family and Nor- 
hiaii Rydge. In.lenlion of Martin and 
his backers is to assume front rank : 
in this district in vjaiide-revvie. cab-.; 
aret aticl iegilimate undertakings; >. '.. J 



Warner Gross Soars In 
First Half , 43- , 44 But 
Net Off to $3,492,125 

Despite an increase of more than 
$6,200,000 in gross income," Warner 
Bros, net operating profit for the first 
six; months v of present fiscal year 
amounted ; lo only $3 492.125 ais com- 
pared with $4,141,199 in correspond- 
ing period a year ago. Warners' fust 
six months of fiscal yeai which ended 
last- Feb. 26, showed '94c"-per com-" 
mon share as against $1.06 in corre- 
sponding period last year; a year ago 
being figured after provision for pre- 
ferred stock dividends. Company has 
no preferred outstanding now. 

After . eliminating ; intercompahy 
transactions, gross income totalled 
$69,629,010 for the six months ended 
last Feb. 26 as compared with $63,- 
409.868 in sixmonth . ended Feb,_ 27." 
1943. Warners'- earned surplus as of. 
Feb. 26 this year amounted to $25,- 
410.465. ... .. . - r. ■;.'-■'-'; 

However, Warners' actual net- was 
almost equal to that a year ago in 
the "first half of fiscal year in view of 
fact that the corporation wrote off 
$625,000 as a provision for unrealized 
losses on fixed assets, being mainly 
realty sales, contracted -subsequent to 
Feb. 26 this year but not yet con- 
summated. This figure is less the tax 
benefits "resulting "from the transac- 
tion, the company report noted. 

Company provision for Federal ex- 
cess profits and income taxes for the 
recently completed six months 
amounted to $9,110,000 or more than 
twice the net operating profit. Of 
this total, $7,110,000 was for , excess 
profits tax after postwar refund andS 
credit for debt retirement: . ."■ 



Gradually growing stronger in that- 
face of trading difficulties with the 
distributors and the value of mass 
purchasing power, buying-bookiiig 
combines operating out of N. Y. have 
annexed some additional accounts ti» 
provide a present total of "191 thea- 
tres under their control. . 

This figure represents close to 20% 
of all the independently-operated 
houses -in the area served out of the 
N. Y. exchanges Additionally, thw 
includes various indte„c.ircuils which 
ih themselves have strong buying 
power such as Walter Rcade. Fabian, 
Prudential, Skouras," Randforce and 
Triboro: Thus the percentage of 
houses in booking as.sociatioiis, a* 
compared . with the independents,, 
who are potentials- for buying out- 
fits, is almost • staggering. ' , ; ; .•.' 

■Of the-- -foui— -buyiTTg-bO'oking'' or-- 
ganizations operating in N. Y. for 
the benefit of lower N. Y. state. 
Long Island and New Jersey ac- 
counts the largest is the Brandt cir- 
cuit, which, with a couple new addi- 
tion's, now is buying for 114 theatres. 
Joe Ingber, in charge of the buying- 
boqking for; Brandt, announ ces ha 
"haY-ad^fe'crT-tHe urove and "Regent, 
both in Brooklyn, to hisiist, 

Second, largest in N. Y. , is ■ the 
Island Theatre Circuit, headed bV 
Ffank Moscato and Irving Pinsker,. 
which is now- buying and booking 
lor 41- houses. Associated Theatres 
of . N: Si; confining, itself . to New 
Jersey exhibs, has increased its total 
of houses to 21 with the addition of 
the .Savoy, .C'ifTside; N. ' J. Irving 
Dollinger, official of Allied Theatre ". 
Owners of N. - J.-- who's president of 
Associated,, has given- up buying for. 
Die organization., placing the biiying- 
booking under the complete control 
of Jack Meitzer, who had formerly 
assisted Dollinger in. this work. .. . " .. 

The smallest N. Y. buying com- 
bine is the Stiefel Booking Office, 
but it is steadily growing and has 
just brought in the Gloria. Brook- 
lyn, to raise the total or. the boots 
to' 15, Sam Stiefel controls this buy- 
ing organization, '■'"/ ""V- - : ' -. 



'MAN DOWN UNDER' 
BLASTED IN AUSSIE 

Sydney, July 4. 

Metro's "Man From Down Under," 
starring Charles Laughton, has been 
given a terrific blast by the press 
and the public here, with agitation 
under way to have the film banned | 
in this market. Picture is classed! 
as holding Australia up to ridicule. 
Aussie soldiers have protested abo„ut I 
the dialog, saying that it is a mixture \ 
of cockney and Irish with no real ; 
local lingo. 

Latest indication is that Metro - 
may recall "Man" if pressure con- J 
tinues. • 



Sheehan to Head All i 
Rep Indie Producers 

Hollywood. July 4" i 
Republic tipped Howard Sheehan' 
to the post of -executix-e producer, in i 
charge of all independently-made . 
pictures for release b;; that company. | 
Duties ■ include -supervision, of films . 
produced by Walter Colmcs; Sydney . 
Willianis and .Clifford Sandforth, ,' 
currently under contract on indie" 
deals."-- Vt- '/' : ;'.--. ; t- -i.'.. 

Robert V. Newman steps-, into ' 
Sheehan's old job as assistant to Al ' 
Wilson, sludio head, f 



WB Sets 2 For '44-45 ! 

Warner. Bros, has already set two' 
releases for, the 1944-45 season, belffg, 
"Jatiie" Sept. 2 and "Crime - Byj 
Night" Sept. »: '.. ' 

This cuinpany ; »J well as others 
ordinarily have been only a. nionth! 
or six weeks ahead on release dates. | 



Sutherland Huddling 
On Prez Harding Biog 

Hollywood, July 4. J 
Edward Sutherland, who recently [ 
bought "The Life of Warren G. I 
Harding,", is huddling on pi'oduction ! 
details with Leonard Morris, Wash- , 
ington newspaper scribe who wis <tf 
the bedside .'who'ii the former Pr.esi- ! 
dent died. "''.' - | 
.Picture,. .ba^ed • on a biography by ;' 
Kenneth Grayson, will be produced 
independently. 

Agency Sues Lew Landers 

Los Angeles,. July 4. > 

Lew Landers, director, was. sued I 
for $24,070 by the Small Co., Holly- : 
wood agents, charging him with 
breach of an agency . contract. .- :t 

Plaint.iff asks 10", of Landers'; 
earnings, ranging .from.; $400 to $1,- ; 
500. a week, and dating back to Oeto- i 
ber, 1938; Agency, claims Landeisj 
repudiated a director contract. it ar- • 
ranged for him with Columbia, and ; 
wants recompense . for the fees it ' 
would- have earned. 

First director job for Landers'.-im- i 
der his new three-film contract , with 
the Pine-Thomas unit, for Paramount , 
-release will be "Homesick Angel." 

Picture, which, recently drew an 
tipped budget, gbe.i info work when | 
the Pine-Thomas, crew 1 washes .up I 
"Dangerous Passage." •'■ ■ 



WB SELS ITS PHILLY 
EARLE TO CHAIN STORE 

.Philadelphia, July 4. - 
The EarJep-only vaudefilmer here, 
and one of {he key houses in the 
Warner chain, has been sold to tha 
W. T. 1 Grant department chain, it 
was revealed here last week. Al- 
though the selling, price was not re- 
vealed, the property is assessed at 
$2,563,000. 

Grant's.: will not fake possession 
of the property for quite a while, 
Warner execs said. The theatre 
chain has been given an option al- 
lowing it to occupy the property un- 
til 1040 if need be. ■ 

Warners wiil ' probably build a 
new theatre for vaudUlm preseitta- 
tion after the, war, is soon as prop- 
erty- and building costs are sta- 
bilized. If no new house is built, 
vaude can be presented either at 
the Fox or Mastbaum. - 

The Earle'was built in 1923 at a 
cost, of $5,000,000 by the Stanley aird 
B F. Keith interests and at the lime 
was called the finest; vaudeville 
house in . the country. It was' named 
for George H Eai-le, ,lr:, father "of 
the fi/i race Governor of Pennsyl- 
vaiii.i. vv.ho. had a .financial interest in 
the .Stanley .Company.' of. America. 
The- h(,use was at ' tirsl xa'iied the 
Earlc. • but when some members of 
the h'tr.ih obiccted it was changed 
to-; the "Elrae" (Earie spelied - back- 
wards").;., later it was. changed pack 
when the 'family, con.-ented to. the 
use of the original nMre. ' ' 



Sales Meet Concurrent 
With UA's 'Since' Preem 

Sales policy! on David O. SelzuickV 
"Since You- Went Away" wrill be set 
by United Artiste district sales man- 
agers concurrently with the opening 
at the Capitol, N. Y July 20, Art; 
invitation, premiere is being: -, dis- 
cussed ,' for the. .n jght .before . coni- 
mencemeht of the run. While the 
admission," scale.?- at the Capitol wilt 
be increased. Neil F. Agnew, v.p. in 
charge of distribution for .'.Vanguard; 
iSplznicki, slates that- the .prices 
have hot. as yet been delerrriihed. 
. Gene Krupa band, at the Cap with 
the picture, will play a curtailed 25- 
minute?stageshow. Picture -runs two", 
hour* and so mimiu»i ;' ~ : 



jttfn Smfmtcmt Statement ^M^t 




Following, a., nationwide Roadshow- record established in les 
than a thousand situations and unequalled by any attractio 
in the history of motion pictures, with only one exceptiof 
"FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS" will be withdraw 
from release at advanced admission prices on AUGUST 1st, 194 



Wednesday, July S, 1944 P^S SffifY ■ H 

There will be no further engagements of the picture between 
this; date and' FEBRUARY, 1945. 

In FEBRUARY, 1945, Paramount will release "FOR 
WHOM THE BELL TOLLS" for showing at regular admis- 
sion prices. 

This is in conformity with Paramount' s pledge to the ihdus- 
try that 



shown anywhere in this country at popular pf ices until 1945, 
To all theatre men who joined with us in showing f< FOR 
WHOM THE BELL TOLLS^ on its Roadshow basis, 
Paramount acknowledges with thanks job sup^ 

latively done. \ . ' . , _ 

To the many thousands more exhibitors who will play f * FOR 

WHOM THE BELL TOLLS" at popular prices from Feb- 
ruary, 1945, on* we say that the public response to the Road- 
[shoiving of this great Technicolor production is proof that 
picture will establish new box-office records at popular prices. 



it 



"FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS' 

v From th« Celebrated Novel by Ernest Hemingway Starring 

Gary Cooper • Ingrid Bergman 

'r«duc«l cm4 oiricM Vy Saip Wood * B. G. OeSYLVA, e«««M.,**<«« 
IN TECHNICOLOR 
«,«, AKIM TAMIROFf • ARTURO d« COROOVA / 
JOSEPH CALLEIA • KATINA PAXINOU 

■ ■ Screen Play by Dudley Nichols 
Never stop 'till your oyer the top J .fighting- Fifth WW Lout! 



12 



WAR ACTIVITIES 



Wednesday, July 5, 1944 



Exhibs May Extend War Bond Drive; 
Free Movie Day Push to Hypo Sales 



Exhibitors .'throughout the 'nation* 
pulled out all the stops in a con- 
certed effort to reach the bond-sales 
goal for theatres in the filth War 
Loan drive which concludes officially 
next Saturday '8>. but will continue 
indefinitely upon the request of na- 
tional committee chairman Robert: X 
O'Donnell. ~ v :■ ',-.'" .'■ 

" v>The drive 'will reach its climax to- 
morrow 1 6) when nearly. 9,000 thea- 
tres will .hold Free Movie • Day, a 
, total that compares with 3.403 houses 
which staged 'Free Movie Day during 
the Fourth: War Loan campaign.; In 
Minnesota. Florida, eastern Pennsyl- 
vania and the metropolitan -fj.. Y. 
uvea, all theatres are slated to ob- 
serve the event, , : ■ . • 

This nationwide observance, dur- 
ing which any person buying a war 
bond will be admitted free, will be 
heralded by the greatest, radio bar- 
rage ever given to a film industry 
drive; An estimated 69,000,000 per 



Performer Gripes 

Some of the performers who ■ 
have; .been doing those gratis 

..stints, atop the mammoth Fjf.th a 
War Loan cash register in Timef 
Sq. have been squawking about 
the post-show credit-line tags. 

They say they're only too glad 
to volunteer for the patriotic al 
fresco shows, but how about hav- 
ing those billings tossed off be- 
fore the performance- instead of. 
waiting until . the crowds dis-. 
perse and having their names 

•• drowned out in the whirl of re- 
suming/.traffic, ; -.:■ '..'■" -.- 



local circuit operator and national 
committee chairman. ■''■. 

As part of the Fifth War Loan 
Drive, the Majestic theatre is giving 
a special stage attraction to those 
. buying war bonds here. Stage show 
iHom«;ht-f5 --t-mi 1-bear-^n nqunee^ 1^%^ as . Ya n ks^an-alUsoldie^miu; 
men.fs concerning Free Movie Day 
on five ■■major network radio pro- 



OWI Handling Pix-Radio 
On Int'l Monetary Confab 

Washington, July 4. 

OWI is handling worldwide radio 
and film coverage of the Internation- 
al Monetary Conference at Bretton 
Woods, N, H., for purposes of war- 
time propaganda. . 

The Overseas Branch is shooting 
special . film . exclusively for use 
abroad. The news is being plit out 
to the world by cable and shortwave 
radio. The Special Events Section 
of OWI has set up a recording room 
to make platters of some of the ad- 
dresses and to obtain special talks 
which can be angled to various parts 
of the globe via DX. In addition, 
the agency will assist working; news-' 
papermeri. . , . 

Among the OWI people attending 
are: Margaret Jones, Motion Picture 
Bureau; '.". Stanley . Silverman and 
George Houston, Radio Program Bu- 
reau; Lester Troob, Communications 
Facilities Branch. Michael J. Mc- 
Dermdtt, chief of State Department 
Public Relations, heads the crew aid- 
ing the working press.. 



grams. 

. These , programs, include: Dun- 
ninger. on the Blue, at 9 p.m.; ''Can 
You Top This?", oh Mutual, at 7:30; 
' Allan Jones. CBS, at 8; Frank Sin- 



sical from Camp Fannin. 

Group is Headed by Frank Albert- 
son, formerly Hollywood film actor, 

and now at the Camp. ■:■. ■• ' -•'- 

"0" 



RKO's $2,353,645 in N, Y.v 
Bond preems in 12 RKO Metrd- 
atra, CBS, at 9, and "Great Moments ] polit.an theatres in N. Y. last week 
in Music," CBS, at .10. In addition, brought in $2,353,625, this riot includ- 
Innrheds of local stations will plug ing the regular sale of bonds in these 
the event today and tomorrow. .... i houses nor those .of other RKO.the- 
In commenting on this radio - co- atres in the- Met area or out-of- 
cperation. O'Donnell yesterday: i4) town. ' ■ ? - '.': ■. '...'•:.%•;•>' 

stated, "For radio to devote so much 



costly air time to a. patriotic drive 
by the motion picture industry is an- 
other way of saying to the exhibitors 
of America that they have not only 
done a difficult job well, but they 
have convinced wartime America 
that the industry has won an en- 
during, inspiring place in the pages 
of history." ... . ■" ..' : 



Capital Pitch 

--— ^— - - 1 Washington, J:\i1y ; 

An the downtown picture houses 
cooperated on Washington's Caval- 
cade of Freedom, which culminated 
In the Independent Day celebration 
on the Monument lot. Admission was 
by war bond, and all screens ran 
trailers, sold tickets, .thus creating 
Fourth of July opposition, since per- 
formance started at 7:30 p.m. 

Hollywood stars cooperating ar- 
rived Monday. They were Lt. Wil- 
liam Holden. Mischa Auer. Rosemary 
Lane, Martha O'Driscoll, Dennis 
O'Keefe as emcee, John Payne and 
Marlene Dietrich. Paul Whiteman 
conducted the Army. Air Forces band 
in- George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in 
Blue." A $25,000 display of fire- 



.. Col. 's Bond Buys ' 

Columbia Pictures has purchased 
$2,000,000 in war bonds out of its 
funds, this being company's contri- 
bution to Fifth War Loan Drive. 
Purchase is separate and apart from 
any made by employees, although it 
will be credited to Col's quota of 
$3,250,000; 

In addition to bond purchases be- 
ing made, Col employees have set up 
a separate goal of $232,000, not in 
maturity-value ot bonds^bilt ill actual, 
cash, -for the purchase of. a com- 
pletely-equipped 1,500-bed overseas 
hospital, the building of which Co- 
lumbians will sponsor. . 



Radio Helps St. Louis Oyer Top_ 

.. .. St. Louis, Mo., July 4~ . 
' St. Louis was the ' first city 6t ; its 
size to go over the top iri the'Fifth 
War Loan Drive, passing its goal 
eight days ahead of schedule with a 
total of $181,665,605. This exceeds the 
goal by- about $800,000. Drive is still 
continuing and millions are expected 
to be added to the sales total. 

. The radio stations of St. Ldijis per- 
formed - another fine job. They co- 
operated to the fullest extent in pro- 



First Liberty Ship Capt. 
Congrats 'Benj. Warner' 
Skipper From Africa 

In connection with the launching 
ot the S. S. Benjamin Warner, named 
in 'honor of - the father of Warner 
brothers lHarry M., Jack and Al- 
bert) and the last of the Liberty 
•ships to be built by Henry Kaiser, a 
congratulatory message was radioed, 
from an unnamed port in Africa by 
Capt. Erjin R. Olm'stead, skipper of 
the S. S. Patrick Henry, to Capt. H 
Hoeppner of the Benjamin Warner 
Latter is the 679th Liberty ship 
while the Patrick Henry was the first 
■turned put.-;,.... ' ; . . ■'-,':., J- 

Harry M. and Jack Warner were 
on hand for the launching at Rich- 
mond. Cat., last Saturday (1), both 
paying tribute to the builders, of. the 
American merchant marine and the 
personnel who are. manning the 
ships. •'■;.!'.'■ ..' 

"Benjamin Warner knew the 
meaning-...of liberty betler_th_an we 
can know it because he had the bit 
ter experience of oppression," Harry 
Warner said in, commenting on his 
late father, while Jack Warner said, 
in part. "to . the Liberty ships, t)#e 
shipyards, and the merchant marine 
we owe an everlasting debt of grati 
tude." ■ - i 

■Li.ta' B. Warner, daughter of the 
late .Sam Warner.- . christened the 
ship bearing her grandfather's name. 



works included set piece of President t'iding- complete facilities in the en 



Roosevelt and Gen'. Eisenhower. 



Jolson's $1,100,000 

Louisville, July 4. 
Town's biggest war bond show at 
Iroquois Amphitheatre Friday (30) 
with At Jo l son .__Beiiny_ jGood man^ 
leading the Army. Air Force Band of 
the Training Command, Mischa Atier. 
Martha O'Driscoll, Rosemary Lane. 
Lt. William Holden participating; 
filled the big 3,500-seat outdoor thea- 
tre, with every seat sold. Admission 



rouragement of war bond purchases. 
Personal commercialism was not 
given, any attention by the stations! 
Radio St. Louis probably gave its 
best job yet on a war bond cam- 
paign. . 



Air ForceGI Sfrowi 



Local 306, N.Y. Operators, 
Donates Army Ambulance 

In honor of the 120 members it has 
in the armed forces. Local 306, Mdv 
ing Picture Machine Operators of 
N.Y.. has purchased a fully-equipped 
ambulance for donation to the Army" 
at special ceremonies held last week. 
> At the same time, gold member- 
ship cards of 306 have been given' to 
Father John P. Bpland. former chair- 
man of the N. Y. Labor Relations 



Carrier Pigeon Gimmick Nixed 

.■ Washington, July 4. '■ 

Best picture gimmick out of the Normandy invasion, thus far, has to 
do with the Army brasshat who figured out that the best way to get 
motion picture negatives from France to England was to send them 
by carrier pigeon. -. , 

About a week before D-Day, he sprang it on his skeptical associates. 
They agreed to give it a trial iri Britain, fastening small rolls of- 35 
mm. film to 20 pigeons and letting them go. Exactly one pigeon made 
home roost, the remainder-being lost without trace. - ,'■.. 
.': Persistent officer, hopped up with zeal lor speed, was not discour- 
aged: He proposed that the stunt be tried all over again with photo- 
graphic strips instead ot the heavier rolls. 

Just about this time Army Intelligence learned what was going on 
and: nixed the scheme. They pointed out that pigeons flying from 
France would be carrying uricenspred negative, some of -it- highly' 
secret, with a good likelihood that some of it would fall into the hands' 
of the Germans. ':';. . .. ."••■>■''';.' :. *'■•-''' ■'■'■'•'?/'■.'■■''•■■'■.''. .-:.'. .'■:.' 

That, dear Hollywood, ended the Photographic Carrier Pigeon 
Service. ■'.:.';■■•'' •-.:".'■ .■'■.':';."''*' '■ "':..'•:■■■' •-.'•".■' ' ,■■.":■■', ' -.. 



D-Day Newsreeling 



Command Performance 



.. . London, July 4. 
Members of a»i Eighth Army Air 
was by purchase of a War Bond, and | Forces musical show now touring the 



the. show drew a $1,100,000 gate. 
Harry Blue-stone, regular, leader of 
the A A.F Band, pleased , with his 
rhythms, and the stage and screen 
stars made a' field day of the occa- 
sion, clowning and ad libbing, to the 
tremendous enjoyment of the bond 



European Theatre of Operations, 
"Skirts." will play a command per- 
formance before Queen Elizabeth lp- 
day iTues;i as result of carrying 
through a performance recently, dur- 
ing an air. ..raid and .preventing a l 
panic' in the audience largely of kids. 

» '■ 'MNi»ii^iii(iwi;wiwp»i>' '^iiwfiii tSt^j^a^. .b k > »je»4 

I Gls- chosen from ■ Eighth Air Force, 
is .produced, and directed by Lt. 
Brest, of New York, city.-, remem- 
bered as silent film comedian George 
K. Arthur 



Board who has figured in arbrttaiion 
proceedings involving the union, arid 
License Commissioner Paul Moss. , 

In addition to the purchase of the 
ambulance out of union funds, 306 
itself has invested in $65,000 of war 
bonds to date, while its members so 
far have bought $125,000. Also, vari- 
ous 306 projectionists are regular 
blood donors and, from time to time, 
donate their services for projection 
work in connection with bond drives 
and other war "activities. - — 



Cantor in Portland, Ore. 

:,. -:j'.' , : Portland, Ore., July 4. 

Hot spot of entei-taininent for July 
4 in Portland was big war bond .show 
in 25.000-capacity Multnomah: sta- 
dium, with Eddie Cantor sparking 
the bill.. ' f,.-..";: '.' ■■.-. 

. Sponsored by Portland's mer- 
chants newspapers, radio and the:.- , v Washington; July. 4: : 
tics,, the bond program offered Jinx .., Col. Edward L- Munson, who has 
Falkenbursi Warren Hull of "Voxj been . acting chief of the Army Pic 
lop, Bert .-Gordon, Nora Martin, the to rial Service lias " 
latter 



Continued from past 3 

could be processed without delay and 
it was learned that 50.000 leet a week 
could be absorbed in Britain, al- 
though peak capacity has not been 
reached to da.te, , 

Next Was the problem of getting 
jhe "film back from- the-Normandy., 
beachhead. Photographic units were 
instructed to use the; general news 
setups. The Navy had control of the 
beaches and set up Navy Message 
Centers, whi'ch were focal. points for 
Army Public Relations.; The centers 
were designated by flags, and com- 
manding officers had identifying arm 
bands. Everybody was briefed on 
how to get exposed footage to the 
Message Centers. Here the negative 
was put in a press rack marked 
•'urgent!' and ferried across to Eng- 
land on the first fast boats leaving.. 

System of shipping the exposed 
film was known as the SHAEF Cou- 
rier System, and operates lunder Colt 
Joseph Phillips, former Newsweek 
editor. ■•. ;'•''- '•';.- '.! :■'■'';.<-• -V.-." : : '.' : - ; .. :': 

Special "courier" officers were 
placed on docks and jetties at Brit- 
ish ports to take off the sacks and 
rush them to Jhe office of the British 
Ministry of Information in London. 
Each of the agencies— official, news- 
reel, still 1 ,pi'x— were called to come 
and gel Their _ negatives"as quickly-ias 
they arrived. Each agency had its 
own film processed arid then brought 
it to censorship for viewing and edit- 
ing before it could be dispatched for 
use:' . . : '.\. 

In the first days, censors operated 
around the clock. In the case of 
Arrhy Pictorial Service film, a punch 
system was used to indicate cen- 
sored portions without the delay of 
actually cutting the negative. 
D. C. Control 

Originally,, censored portions of 
newsreel-made pix were chopped 
out In Britain. At present the punch 
system is being used for this footage 
also. This means that everything 
will come to Washington. Censored 
portions, will be knocked out here 
by the Army, but will .be on hand 
for release at any time that security- 
no longer requires "these parts to be 
held up. 

Col. Mitchell said that everything 
worked well on D-Day, despite riifl'i- 
cuIties t _Xhe first camera crews hit 
the beaches at H>Hour plus 30 min- 
utes.. The first day, the Germans shot 
down the flags designating message 
centers about as fast as they were 
put 'up. However, the stuff got across 
the Channel jfist the same. By noon 
of D-Day, Army officials w-ere look 7 
ing at the first shots, those made 
over- the battlefield by the U.S. 8th 
Air.i'orce; and two days later Lon- 
don theatres were showing the em- 
barkation stuff. First air films ar- 
rived in the U.S. in .60 hours, but 
•held .uo' th 

X 



Bergen-McCarthy Join 
' Eastern Hospital Tour 

Edgar Bergen and Charlie Mc- 
Carthy have signed for a USO-Cahip. 
Shows hospital tour, joining the ten- 
act hospital unit, "Smooth Sailing," 
as a special attraction. '. .,'.•■'--■'■ 
^jTpur ^covers eight army hospitals 
i n the i easfTstartTiig July 1 f irtrBttl— 
ings General Hospital. Indianapolis. 
Ends on July 29 at Cushing Hospital, 
Framingham, Mass. ; , , . , 



Invasion 6-Reeler Mav > r 
Tie In With Fall of Paris 

.'■'■'■■.'-' .'.■■' Washington, July .4! 

First. of the official British-Ameri- 
can films to come out of the Nor- 
mandy Invasion is planned as R six- 
reeler which will probably cover the 
first 90 days of the invasion. If, how- 
ever, Paris should fall before then, 
or some other important event take 
place in the meantime, that may be 
used as a chopping off place: for the 
pic, in line with the policy of getting 
the films to the public while they me 
still news. 

The film will be made under th« 
auspices of the^recently set up An- 
glo-American Eihn Planning Board, 
whose job is to make films covering 
joint- jnilitarv-operat ions Bo ard cq-; 
ordinates the work of U. S , Cana- 
dian and English agencies making 
pictures, such as the Armv, Navv, 
OWI, MOI, etc. v 

■ First of the. joint films was the 
recent "Eve. of Battle." Second Is 
"Liberation of Rome." .a f wo-reeler 
to be released July 13. All follow 
the pattern of "Tunisian Victory." 

Co-producers Of the coming film 
will be Lt.-Col. Anatole Litvak. for 
the Army Pifitqrial Service, and' Li.- 
Col. David MacDonald, producer of 
"Desert Victory," for the British. 
War Dept. representative on the 
Anglo-American Film Planning 
Board is Col. Curtis Mitchell, head of 
the pictorial unit of Army Public 
Relations, who conferred iri Britain 
w'ith other members at the beginning 
of the invasion. , - .. '. . .-■:■, ■ 



■ Invasion Lenso.rs 

Although Jack Lieb -'(Jfe'ws of the 
Day) and Neil Sullivan tPa(he) sre 
the only n'ewsreelcrs whose footage 
has come into this country thus 'Jar 
from France, Ned Buddy, head of the 
American newsreel pool in Europe, 
reports that Thomas Priestly -(Uni- . 
versal) is also with the invasion BrW 
mies. Priestly's stuff, is believed to 
have been held up somewhere *long 
the line in Normandy] 

John Bockhurst, . who was tlso 
scheduled to go into France, coh- 
fracted malaria in the Souih Pacifio 
arid couldn't be moved. Robert Blair 
tMovietone), who has been shooting 



Portland girl who .started 
her radio singing career 'On ' Port- 
land s station KG W. 



The "Bert WiUiains," a Liberty ship 
named for the famed Negro corne- 
lian who died in 1922, will be built 
With Harlem; war-bond subscriptions, 
it was announced by the Harlem 

Col. Gapra Asst. Chief TO T Wai,i ^ V . Division of the Fifth War 

Loan Drive. ■.. :.■;•,■:■•;■ ■■■•■'■■,■■... ■■ 

Williams, who Was one of the top 
comedians and pantomimists at the 
turn Of .the'. century, starred in many 
Ziegfeid shows, being identified. with 
such 'songs as "Nobody," "Woodman, 
Spare that Tree" and "We're- Not, 
Going to' Play This Game According 
to Hoyle,. We're Going to Play it Ac- 
cording to Me." :. .'•.;.. ,'■.■ • ■;.■ '■'■-.. 



Col. Minison in Army Pix 



been tipped to 
Chief, with Col. Frank Capra now 
holding the title Of Assistant. Chief, .. 

Col. Ivi.r.ke B. Law'oii, whom Mun- 
son succeeded, now carries :the title 
of Film and Photographrc Officer at- 
ftached to -Supreme. Headquarters -in 
| Britain, and is in charge of all Army 
I Pictorial Sen-ice activities on the 
active European fronts. . -. '■• '-■., '/ •, 



. Home Town Backs O'DonncU. 

:■ ' > ':/. J . "'■''■ '■■i' Dailas, July 4. 
Dallas was the first city to go over 
the top in :-lhe Fifth War Loan drive. 

selling SV4.000.ntiO in bonds up to last l - Col.. Mclvin Gillette, former chief 
Wednesday (28 >, $2,000,000 over its] of the Signal Corps: Photographic 
quota, with- more than a w eek to ;go Center at ' Astoria, who Was : sent 
before the end of •the ..enmpaign 'across .to direct photographic activi- 
James O. Cherry, city exhibitor ties in North Africa, is now iri 
chairmen ■noHfied R. J. O'Donnell, charge in Ivi.lv;' . .'■ 



Fight for Rome in WAC Short 

The September-to-June Allied 
fight for Rome, filmed by British 
and American cameramen has' been 
made into a 20-miriule short 
"Liberation of Rome;" It will be 
distributed by Metiio for the WAC. 

Film includes sequences from the 
initial landings at Calabria to the 
Allied entrance, into Rome. : •' 



TVJ"*&>*£ "waitahe ironhd ffl? England ' ^ '^*:^ 
rounded picture of D-Day. 



One unique: D-Day stunt was. to 
mount 35 mm. cameras at Universal 
focus on landing barges and tanks, 
with one man on each directed to 
"push the button" at the beach. Fifty 
cameras were mounted; 47 were 
smashed or had their pix otherwise 
spoiled. However, three i00-foof 
rolls were successfully made, show- 
ing the first soldiers wading up on 
the beaches, ~* " ■ : 



ODT Robbed? 

Washington. July'4. 
The Office of Defense Transporta- 
tion thinks "we v/uz robbed" on the 
deal it made with the Treasury 
Dept. regarding star bond tours. 
Treasury has stuck strictly to il» 
promise to have no special train lor 
bandhawking Holly wooders, but has 



. scheduled star junkets via the regu- 
On D-Day -came the first release of Jar. rattlers. 



certain .wading equipment which, up- 
to then, . could: not be photographed 
because the "watermarks" on their 
sides, would have. shown how. deeply 
they loaded. On D-Day, plus 1, first 
pix identifying' combat divisions 
-were released— fastest .this' has been 
clone so far, :. : '■;••>.•• , '-":'■ ; 

Supervising all press and pictorial 
activity for GenerarEisenhower is 
General Thomas Jefferson Davis. At 
this end, rushing the stuff to the 
newsreels is Lt. James Faichney. 
Overseas Film Security Officer, and 
former Pa the news editor. .' '■' ' 



That is where the hitch is. Some, 
at least, of -the ODT boys .understood 
the agreement to mean no star tours 
at all. The tour goes oh. bonds are 
being sold, but ODT sa;yV"n.b priori'-- 
ties, no special reservations, and( 
they have to, take ca.fch-as-cateh- ■ 
can all down' the line." 



Emceeing Soldier Vnit 
Cpl. - Albert.; D.:- Smith, -perfonner 
before Army got hiin, now eincfceing 
and entertaining with soldier unit in. 

Italy. ■ '-■ ■;.'■;;, '":'.■.;; . - 



Every Theatre: Free Movie 
Day July 6th! "The : Fight- 
ing Filth" Victory Climax ! 



U HOUSE REVIEWS 



Wednesday, July 5, 1944 



Music Hall, X. Y. 

"hong Ago," produced by Leon 
Leonidoff; settings Bruno Maine; 
costumes, WU.la Van, Marco Monte- 
doro, executed, H. Rogge, lighting, 
Eugene- Braun; special lyrics, Albert 
Stiiinini! with Don Cossock Choir 
(25); Serge Jaroff, director; Jane For- 
rest, RusselV& Renee; Betlina Rosay. 
Rudolf Kroeller; Roctettes "(Gene 
Snyder); ballet (Florence Rogge); 
Richard Leibert, Harry Campbell at 
organ; Erno Rapee, Frank Nouiicki, 
Jules Silver, conducting "La Bo- 
heme"; March of Time; "Once Unon 
a . Time"' (Col), reviewed in "Va- 
riety'' April 26, '44. .:.' :>. V.' 



while Billie and Evelyn Nightengale 
are a smooth tap team, with guy dis- 
playing some well executed stepping. 
Show closes with aforementioned 
"Flying Home" stanza 'hat lands 
solidly. '■ ■ ■'■ .::' 



Orpiiemn, 1.. A. 

■-, Los '-Angeles, June 30. 
Hollywood Canteen Kids Orch 
(15), Freddie Stewart. Carmela, the 
Paysec Dancers C2), Danny Desmond, 
the Thornton Boys. CI J. Betty Atkin- 
son; "Follow the Leader" tMono). 



Stale, X. ¥. 

Mage & Carr, June Taylor Girls 
(6), Duke Art, Jr. ; Ladd Lyon Co. 
(2>. WUlie Howard u ith Al Kelly, 
Benny Fields, Ruby Zwerling's 
House Orch; "See Here, Private 
Hargrdve" (M-G). , .: 



Snappy three-quarter hour show- 
to complement "Once Upon ,a Time'' 
features the Don Cossack Choir (25), 
no strangers here, "The Fair" and 
"Meadowland" are their . openers 
(scheduled "Volga Bdatman" elimin- 
ated) and they return for the in- 
evitable "Twp Guitars*' in the ballet 
finale, wherein Bettina Rosay and 
Rudolf Kroeller are the vocal solo- 
ists plus the Florence Rogge-trained 
Corps de Ballet, ... 

"Long Ago" is the title of the 
Leonidoff presentation which is the 
tipoff on nostalgia as June Forrest 
does a glorified ill. slide routine. 
There is the usual mauve decade ac- 
coutrements for "Ta-Ra-Boom -de- 
Ay", by the Rockett'es, et al. segueing 
into Russell & Renee's effective 
trampoline specialty. '. -V-;' ;•: 

This sort of act is so old today it's 
new, and all the nonsense of -the ex- 
aggerated pole holds, plus the com- 
edy trampo-tumbling, go for extra 
values, espedally-W-hen the.sigbJLels.-- 
rhent is so advantageous in the mam- 
moth Hall. Renee is an especially 
good performer with her comedy 
rope-skipping and hoop tumbling. 

* / Abe!. 



Michigan, Detroit 

Detroit, July 1. 
Jerry Waid Orch (18) unth Perry 
Como, Ginny Powell, Dick Merrian, 
Mr. Ballantine, Jeanne Blanche, Ox- 
ford Boys; Phil Brestoff House Orch 
with Del Parker; "Meet the People" 
(M-G) . 



Now competing with, the Down- 
town which has a regular policy of 
stage shows, the Michigan currently 
is countering with the draw of 
Como's radio rep, Wald's warmish 
band arid several standard acts. 

Como takes the show with ease 
with his effortless delivery on such 
sock tunes as "I Love You," "Good- 
bye Sue," "Temptation,"- "I'll Get 
By" and a string of old favorites, 
'Long Ago," etc., which gives an 
idea of his workout in the show: 
Done with a ' dramatic touch, he 
scored high. Wald loans his clari- 
net to sharpen up his band and 
registers biggest on the-.^hq^ side 
with "Jam Blues" and "Blues Con- 
certo' with Miss Powell and Mer- 
rian doing a good job on the vocals. 

Supporting acts up to standard 
with *Mr. Ballantine getting the 
laughs with witty stuff as he botches 
up a magician's routine; Jeanne 
Blanche, with great elevation, float- 
ing through difficult acrobatic 
dance routines and the Oxford Boys 
sound on their take-off of radio per- 
sonalities. Del Parker, improved af- 
ter a stint with Vaughn Monroe, is 
back with Brestoff's house orch and 
scorer with "Tess' Torch Song." At- 
tendance good at afternoon show 
caught. ';■.■/ ....-. Pool. 

Apollo, IV. V. 

Lionel Hampton Orch (18) with 
Dinah Washington, Ritbel Blakely; 
Conway & Parks, Otto Eason, Billie 
& Evelyn Nightengale; "Detective 
Kilty O'Day" (Mono). 



Bobby socket's have . taken over 
!the Oipheum stage this week to give 
60 minutes of entertainment that 
stacks up to many, an adult show 
put on at this house. 

Hollywood Canteen Kids orch 
(15,1 features the mighty drum work 
of Karl Kiffe. who also ' acts as 
leader Teenaged skinbeater won a 
local Gene Krupa contest several 
years back, and is capable of excit- 
ing rhythm that , is second to none. 
His solo work on "Hawaiian War 
Chant" and "Drum Boogie" is top 
music.'anship on a par with more 
experienced drummers. Youngster 
has an assured future; in the band 
world.'v!- ■■ - ;'•-■>"' •'''.;•'•';■'':•-.',■■'.:''.• 
Another standout of the show is 
vocaling of Freddie Stewart, also in 
his teens. Stewart makes a nice ap- 
pearance, has vocal quality and good 
range that should sell his tenoring 
in future work. He scores ' solidly 
with "I'll Get By" and "Amour," 
plus two encores. "Last Time I Saw 
Paris" and "I'll Be Seeing You." A 
-little-more attention _to__his hands 
and forgetting of ' swoon-breaks" oh 
some of the phrasing would improve 
his otherwise topnotch delivery. 

Orch pounds, out noisy rhythm 
with with "Blue Lou," ''And the 
Angels Sing" and "Second Rhap- 
sody," plus backing band vocalist, 
Carmella, on "I Cried for You" and 
"Tess' Torch Song." Danny Desmond 
emcee? show and also cuts in two 
pantomime bits of his own, both 
funny. Desmond is a brash comic, 
but some of his material was out 
of line with the bobby sock troupers 
on stage. 

The Thornton Boys, three youth- 
ful exponents of mountain music, 
please nicely with their interpreta- 
tions on ukelele, fife and a Spike 
Jones contraption of percussion 
noise-makers. Betty Atkinson sells 
some first rate rhythm taps, and the 
Paysees (2V exhibited clever foot- 
work on ball room terping and 
more exciting jive steps. Brog. 



With WillieV Howard and Benny 
Fields topping the current layout, 
the State has a combination of 
veteran standards in addition to suf- 
i ficient new ... talent to make this a 
I well-balanced bill. . Another 'in the 
many dates played by both Howard 
land Fields , at this Broadway vaude 
spot, there's no denying . that their 
familiar turns are still as click as 
always. There isn't much difference 
in their acts than normally, except, 
possibly, in a couple of the Fields 
songs. But that doesn't mean much 
because, with turns like Howard 
and Fields, it's question of the audi- 
ence, as a rule, wanting repeats of 
routines that made them originally 
notable. ;•■''•.', * : '■' ' ; ..' .. : 

Howard is still ; dp' ng his Prof. 
Pierre Ginsberg routine in which he 
professes to teach French. Al Kelly, 
for years a Howard foil is still with, 
him, and that Kelly' double talk is 
.still good tor plenty of laughs 
i Fields returns' to 4-he.*-State with 
somewhat of a,, picture rep. Recent- 
ly back from Hollywood, where he 
made "Minstrel Man'! for PRC 
Picts. purportedly a story of ; his 
life, : he • still uses all the old corny 
mannerisms. .But, withal, a pattern 
in showmanship for the younger 
singers to follow. Now around the 
mid-century mark, Fields was the 
original crooner, and he can hold 

his own on any- rostrum. ' ;-'■;'■'■'■'; 

Rest of the bill includes the ball- 
room pair of Mage and Carr, June 
Taylor's six-girl acrobatic dance 
troupe, Duke Art, Jr., clay-modeling 
act, and Ladd Lyon, comedy acro- 
batic turn. All go over. Lyon is re- 
viewed more extensi vely under New 
Acts. 

Ruby Zwerlirig in the pit still re- 
mains one of the crack maestroes for 
playing a vaude show. ' Kahn. 



one provided by Harris & Shore, 
whose knockabout dance travesties 
repeat the hit they've always scored 
here. They, too, have no superiors 
in their particular field. 

The nifty Miss Hilliard in a stun- 
ning gown does four songs, "It Had 
to Be You," "Sing a Tropical Song," 
"Milkman Keep Those Bottles 
Quiet" and "It's Love, Lovey.Love," 
and she, of course, makes every one 
a knockout, and leaves the custom- 
ers begging for more. Nelson joins 
her in several numbers for clowning. 

Lower, floor well filled at: opening 
show Friday. : Rees. 

Ilipp, Ha I to 

Baltimore, July 2. . 
Mora & Yacouelli; Gene Archer, 
Olympic Girls (2). Joe Morris .& 
Dorothy Ryan, Buster Shaver with 
Olive, George & Ricbu rd, Felice InUi 
and House Orch (121; "Once Upon a 
Time ' (Col). 



Oriental, Chi 

... „ . Chicago, July i. 

Bobby Sherwood Orch (16), tutth 
Gail Landis, Skylarks (4), Rochester 
Hector & Pals, Troy & Lynn, Kitty 
Murray, Willie Covan; "Yellow Rose 
of Texas" (Rep.) 



Pleasing layout is paced by Gene 
Archer, recently discharged from 
Armed Services and on hand as a 
straightworking, singing emcee: 
Holds to unvarnished intros and 
contributes potent vocals in between 
general setup. Olympic Girls, duo 
of femmes essaying smart hand-to 



.-Rochester and Bobby Sherwood 
Orch are the big noises here this 
week. Rochester, assisted' by Kitty 
Murray, keeps the house rolling with 
laughter, and Sherwood's crew has 
the. j lives stomping to blatant brasses. 

Rochester, in closing spot, was a 
| little slow ' getting started, mostly 
because of too much conversation . 
! about ; the. Benny air show, but 
' warmed up with some good gags, 
songs and Clever stepping that 
brought down the house. Later, when 
he teams up .with Kitty Murray, who 
is no slouch as. a comedienne, the 
rat'teYs ring with laughter, adding up 
to one of the biggest hits on the 
Oriental stage in a long time. Roch- 
ester introduces Willie Covan, who 
contributes nifty classic tap routine; 

Troy & Lynn click in opening 
frame with clever legmania routines. 
First one, very cleverly executed 1 , 
abounds in eccentric steps, and. 
closer, an impression of two high 



hand" ballancing, tire a. pleasing I school kids at a prom, sends, them off 



novelty and a punchy starter 

.Dorothy Ryan, foiling on stage for 
Joe Morris in a balcony box. whacks 
out a vocal to start matters after 
which okay crossfire garners steady 
laughs. Morris knows his way 
around and registers well, never 
leaving his .perch but front, • from 
which he takes his repeate'd bows, 
--following, an_ extended sesh of 



Karle, Philly 

Philadelphia, June 30. 
Abe Lyman Orch (15) with 
Frankic Connors, Rose Blane, Gene 
Sheldon, Bob DuPone, Loretta 
Fisher; "Ghost Catchers" (U). . :■' " 



Tower. K. C. 

Kansas City, June 30. 
Nick Lucas, Mel Cardo, Topsy 
Boyde, Whirling Aces (2), Richard 
Alexander, Tower Orch with 
Marilyn ■ Bollinger; "Lady, Let's 
Dance" (Mono) and "Trocadero" 
(Rep). 



Lionel Hampton's reprise at this 
uptown sepian showcase differs lit- 
tle from his recent run at the down- 
town Capitol, except from the view- 
point of audience reaction, in this 
case bordering on the fervid. The 
band generates a mass spontaneous 
enthusiasm and excitement when 
caught, with its torrid rhythms aud 
showmanship that threatened to tear 
down the house. 

The combination of three trom- 
bones, five sax, five tr.urofiet.and five 
j^X'rvJhrr makes for ^.a^twelbXiril^W'- 
thaf can't be beat. When it plays 
"Flying HOme" and other such 
numbers, it creates a pitch of such 
intensity that seems about to burst 
the confines of the house. One 
minor shortcoming of the show, is 
that it doesn't utilize Hampton's 
varied talents to the fullest degree. 

While he does a turn on the piano 
teaming witTi his regular player on 
"Boogie Woogie," and works on vibs 
twice with "Holiday for Strings" and 
"Moonglow" for sock returns, he 
skips the drum beating, except for a 
short play on the second drums in 
the windup of "Flying Home," with 
Arnett Cobbs featured on tenor six 
for terrific impression." . 

Otto Eason, roller skating tapper, 
tees off with some fancy hoofing to 
healthy, response. Rubel Blakely. 
and Dinah Washington, vocalists, go 
over big. the former in "The Music 
Stopped" and "I'll Be Seeing You," 
with gal doing "Don't Bother With 
Me," risque ditty that the audience 
ate up T and "There'll Be a Jubilee." 

Canada Lee, Negro actor, brought 
on extemporaneously, delivered a trib- 
ute to Hampton for furthering cause 
of the Negro race through music. 
Conway and. Parks, male duo make 
fair patter and dancing go over well, 



The Earle boards are cooling off 
a bit this week after a torrid five-a- 
day dose of the Ink Spots, et al. 

Current layout lacks any hefty 
marquee, draw but proves fairly 
diverting. 

Abe Lyman's stunt of getting 
would-be Sinatras and Dinah Shores 
from the audience provides a novel 
and entertaining touch to a routine 
band presentation. When caught 
a husky truckdriver's helper with an 
ear-pleasing baritone copped the 
amateur honors. . Setup is for win- 
ners of each performance to com- 
pete for final honors at. the end of 
the week. 

Of Lyman's own troupe, his staff 
vocalists Frankie Connors, lienor, 
and Abe's wife, Rose Blane, are 
bell-ringers. Former gives out with 
the schmaltzy stuff "I'll Be Seein" 
You"; "Long Ago and Far Away"; 
"Begin the Beguine") ; gal warbler's 
forte is the jump-up rhythms 
("Milkman"; "GI Jive"; "Amen"). 

Band numbers highlight Gershwin 
tunes, with spot, given to Jack 
Marlow with violin solo of "Dark 
Eyes." •■;.'■.' 

Gene Sheldon's clever pantomine 
and guitar twanging is good for 
plenty of guffaws, especially his 
clowning with the band and his 
parther-wife, Loretta Fisher; The 
guy's antics are reminiscent of 
Harry Langdon in', .his silent pic 
days.- ■,'-::' ■ ■'.:■" ■ 
**4k Jading oui .bjll is Bob DuPont, 
comedy juggler, who never fails to 
please. 

House about 70% filled when re- 
viewed- (Friday afternoon). Shal. 



Capitol, Wash. 

.,. . .; ,' ■ Washington, June 29, 
Jane Pickens, Bob Gentry, Adrian 

RoIIini Trio, Manuel Viera's Pets. 

Sam Jack Kaufman's House Orch; 

"Two Girls and a Sailor" (M-G). 



With Nick Lucas heading a fast- 
moving 40-minute bill, the Tower is 
reaping its heftiest gross in several 
months.. • • .,..;;.. . ,>. , 

Walking on casua-lly with his 
guitar, Lucas was greeted with a 
big hand before he sang a word at 
the opening show. He tees off with 
"San Fernando Valley," and then 
follows through with "I'll Be Seeing 
You." , 

After several- bows,:, he revives 
such earlier hits as "Tip Toe 
Through the Tulips" and "Side by 
Side." Begs off with stubholders 
clamoring for more. .", ■■'.'. 

House orch opens bill with the 
oldie, "It Had To.. Be You," with 
Marilyn Ballinger doing nicely by 
the vocal. . 

Mel Cardo, mimic, doubles as 
m.c. The Whirling Aces, man and 
woman roller - skaters, breeze 
through a fast routine. Richard 
Alexander, "Discovery Night" win- 
ner, gives with some boogie on his 
squeeze-box. Topsy Boyde, contor- 
tionist, registers s'olidlv with her 
back-bends. Mel Cardo. next-to- 
closing, gets laughs with his. takeoff 
on a street pitchman. Earl. 



Acts), Moro and Yacouelli take hold 
for a lilting interlude of good com- 
edy and instrumental music. Made 
up as Mexicans, taller member of 
duo has a decided Myle in slow- 
moving reaction to peppier partner. 
Utilizing guitars for comic but 
highly legit performance they 
switch to violin and accordion; wind- 
ing up with some -vocalizing which 
all adds up to a solid begoff. ', 

Buster Shaver with Olive and 
George offer their usual super 
smooth layout of songs and ball- 
roomology. Waltz of Buster and the 
diminutive Olive is a decided nov- 
elty and rear audience grabber. A 
new member of the act is introduced 
as Richard, tiny brother of George, 
and he proceeds to p-pe out a med- 
ley of tunes from 'Oklahoma" 
which ring the bell and give added 
stature to offering. . 

Biz very good. Burm. 

Downtown, lletro.it 

Detroit, July 1. 
Ada Leonard Orch (16) , utith 
Frances Grl^in; Rita Kctly, Dei 
Thompson, Sunny Rice; Jttne Lor- 
raine. Hilda. "Lady & Monster" 
(Rep). ' • ' : ■ . . '.:•-■; '■ , 



to healthy palmwhacking. 

Hector & Pals, assisted, by Marion, 
continue' one of the most amusing 
dog acts in Vaiide. Dogs offer many 
amusing tricks to. the running chat- 
ter of Hector for solid hit: 

Bobby Sherwood and his orch go 
heavy on the brasses, with a little 
too much power behind the instru- 
ments at times. Crew opens with 



legjt^ vocalizing^ ^by^AfcHer. . ty^jtoucl' v ersiott 6t rEl k lrParatte," --iea=- 

turing Sherwood's trumpet, and then 
swings into a jive arrangement of 
Rimsky-Korsakoff composition. Gail 
Landis; statuesque blonde vocalist; 
warbles "Long Ago and Far Away 
and "I'll Be Seeing You" to good re- 
turns, and the Skylarks, mixed quar- 
tet, are adequate with several num- 
bers. Sherwood also, contributes a 
vocal with "It Could Happen to You" 
and outstanding strumming of "My 
Heart Stood Still" on his guitar, 
'■:'<.'■'-■■'■-' . Morg. 



Jane Pickens holding over, does 
the same routine as .last , week. She 
gets over solid with her songs. 
Manuel Viera missed the first show 
due to missing tr<ii.n . connections. 
His collie, great Dane and two 
monkeys, generate plenty, of com- 
edy. Bob Gentry's monologue is 
concerned with : humorous impres- 
sions of song lyrics. For encore an 
imitation of the nervous draftee 
facing his draft board. , '": ' 

Adrian Rollini Trio, bass viol, steel 
guitar, marimba and piano, lick out 
some fine rhythmic tunes. 

Gene Ford is going in for more 
production on his stjge shows and 
this miniature revue is niftily back- 
grounded and lighted. Arke; 



Orplieiiin, Mpls. 

Minneapolis, July 1. . 
Ozzie Nelson Orch (17) with Har- 
riet Hilliard. Lindsay. LaVerne & 
Betty. West & Le.ring. Harris Hz 
Shore; "Seven Days Ashore" (RKO) . 

Dominated by the million dollar 
personalities and talents of Ozzie 
Nelson and Harriet Hilliard, this 
show cops plenty for comedy, vocal- 
izing and dancing, as well as the 
Nelson brand of swing music. It hits 
ail entertainment: peak. : 

As always, Nelson is a smooth as 
silk emcee whose deft handling of 
the proceedings enhance value great- 
ly. In addition, he fronts the band, 
sings and works in most of the acts, 
and whatever J -,e does^is-good.- "The' 
orchestra is of generous proportions, 
comprising eight brass, four saxes 
and three rhythm, and its musical 
emanations arouse a strong customer 
response. Miss Hilliard, of course, 
is tops in her singing— one of the 
best of the song stylists: ; 

"No Love, No Nothing" is rather 
torried swing as performed by the 
band for the starter. Then comes an 
I arresting arrangement of "I Love 
You" with some welcome Nelson 
warbling. Lindsay, LaVerne & Betty, 
| attractive girls, come through nicely 
with amazing cartwheels, somer- 
saults, handsprings and tumbling in 
their speedy dance act. 

Nelson's own' composition. "Jump ! 
Time," is, snappy swing that gives 
chances to the boys for individual ! 
soloing. _ 

Tall, austere Paul West and dirriiri- j 
utive, bald- Meggs Lexing were fa- 
vorite burlesque comics in this town ! 
and in their new field they're. as sue- i 
ccssful as ever in landing laughs and 
approval with their comedy singing | 
and original, clean tomfoolery antics, j 
They impress as a good bet for films. | 
Nelson paves way with snappy, re- , 
partee and comedy business for an- 
other topnotch laugh session—this 



This all-girl combo has improved 
considerably since in here last with 
Miss Leonard turned into a suave 
and poised emcee as well as an cyc- 
full in gowns designed for attention. 
Band is more on the hot than Ihe 
sweet side, having some good ar-: 
rangements. 

The long, lean maestriss leads her 
gals through sound stuff on "Frac- 
ture in C," . "Pale Hands," "Body 
and Soul" and "Straighten Up and 
Fly Right." Band's pianist. Rita 
Kelly, does right by a "Porgy and 
Bess" medley and others. Miss 
Shirley's hot trumpet and Dez 
Thompson at the drums get their 
spot. Frances Griffin, new singer 
with the band, comes close to being 
a show stopper with her versions of 
"Milkman," "I Love You" and a 
tricky scoring of "St. Louis Blue's." 
Miss Leonard pipes lyrics to "Mod 
About. Him" in a pleasing style. 
Combination has six - in . the. brass 
section,: seven in the ".strings and 
three percussion. 

Three i'emme acts are with the 
band with Hilda working in the 
juggler, spot by tossing top huts, 
dumbbells and . lighted torches 
around; June Lorraine cbhU'iljs 
clever impersonations ; of • Durante. 
Bar: vmore. Laughton, Bette Davis. 
Hepburn and others while Sui-ny 
Rice is also okay with a hoofing 
style which combines taps and bal- 
let. Biz okay with a better than 
usual picture combination for 'he 
ne'w^6useV"/'.': f ' , 'i ■■ "" «» ' ■■«.> f> 5J ! 



New Acts 



LADD LYON (1) 

Acrobatics . 

9 Mins. '.-• ■ '-'?. ,, 

Loew's State, N. Y. 

Ladd Lyon is a refreshing new 
personality who departs from the 
standard acrobatics in the employ- 
ment of a table and chair for his 
act. The bulk of his turn is in the 
use of an audience stooge for comedy 
values. It's , later revealed they're 
brothers!,. 

Lyon handles himself well though 
Hie stunts are not out of the ordi- 
nary. It would be best if he did 
more straight acrobatics rather than 
rely so much on the stooge part of 
the turn. It's inclined to slow up the 
act. However, ♦for comedy purposes, 
there's no denying it serves its ele- 
mental purposes. 

Otherwise, act is okay for first or 
second on family-time bills. Kahn. 



GENE ARCHER 
Singing; Emcee 
12 Mins. 

Hippodrome, Balto. 

Gene Archer is a nice-appearing 
lad just released by the Army. Pos- 
sessed of highly legit baritone pipes 
which he switches into crooning fal- 
settos and slides, he whaCks out a 
fairly potent song. 

When caught Archsr did "Girls, 
Goodbye" a medley from "Show Boat" 
and a potpourri of George M. Cohan 
songs, all pleasing and well received. 
With some polishing and better ar- 
rangements he should be able to find 
a spot in any company. Handles in- 
tros pleasingly and without attempt 
at- gaggery.. Burm. 



I Correspondents 



Earle, Wash. 

Everett West, 3 Pitchmen. Dolores 
Evers., Eileen Ritter, Roxyettes, Jo 
Lombardi's House orchestra. "Once 
Upon A Time" (Col). 

Robust baritone of Everett . West 
ffrom "Rosalinda") 
heard here this season. Tore roof 
off with "Song of Open Avoad," 
"Love, Love, Love,'' "Irish Eyes Are 
Smiling" and original arrangement 
of "Dark Eyes." On to lead Roxy- 
ettes for closing number in "Home 
on the Range." . 

"Three Pitchmen,'', swell comedy 
alesmeri, work fast and score heav- 



Cnntinued from page 1 

pean invasion, who has returned to 
this country, has joined with Lt. 
Cmdr. Hartley in setting up facilities 
for'Tacific area news operations. 

Lessons learned during the inva- 
sion of France will be used to advan- 
tage, including a strong effort to im- 
prove the quality of Navy recorder 
equipment so as to bring even more 
realistic sounds of battle to listeners 
in this country. Alsov generating 
best voice} equipment will be perfected which 
is light and self-sufficient enough 
to fit into space on planes and small 
boats, including landing craft which 
do not have their own generating 
equipment. ,: ',. '..*■•'' .■.."•■■■.''.'.' • 

Quicker dispatching of the film 
after the. battles are recorded will 
- I also be worked out, and a concerted 

imitate' 1 ^ ^^^1^1 effoft % the ^.transmitters 
ments; a' clever line of patter aiding 1 neilrel: the scenes of action will defi-. 
their music. Four bows and could , . ml ' c 'X be made. . . 
have; stayed longer. Dolores. Evers' Among the: network news heads 
on. the tight wire closes with 'rhyth-. ! who met with Hartley Monday, and 
mjc dancing. Roxyettes do a South I presented to him seven points which 
Seas number in- grass «skirts. finale ! wi n be worked out .between the webs 



with a wild western specialty with 
Eileen Ritter singing "San Fernando 
•Valley." Show. is. cleverly lighted 
and production numbers score heav- 
ily. :'■..'■ ; '-,". Arke. 



and the .Navy in future' meetings, 
were: Paul White, CBS; G. W. John- . 
stone, Blue; John Whittemore, Mu- 
tual, and W. F. Brooks, NBC. 



Wednesday, July 5, 1941 



1% 




iii 

as />cr«>tf^L««=— • i 




to 



Ml 





■ ; ' : :^::, :; i:v.'; .W 



PAT CAROLE 

O'BRIEN LANDIS 




with 



CHESTER MORRIS 



RUTH WARRICK > '8ARTQN .MactAiE TOM TULLY • WALLACE FORD 

Screen play by ROY CHANSWR - Bassd upon a Sstur&iv EvMrag tost Hflfll ahj bast-Se(6|»* novel by JOHN KWHINS and *A&0 HAWKINS 




16 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wednesday, July 5, 1944 



LA. Still Big; 'Holiday Smash 7SG 
in 4 Houses; 'Mask' Sturdy 516 in 3, 
CMs High S3liC 3 Spots in 2d Wk. 



Los Angeles, July 4. 
Combination of July 4 and stout 
product is pushing up grosses this 
week despite holdovers in eight first- 
runs and three spots with move- 
overs. Solid is "Christmas Holiday, 
which is soaring to a great $75,000 
in four theatres, and top new entry. 
"White Cliffs" still is big at $53,500 
in three spots for second week. 

Other newcomer, "Mask of Dimi- 
trios," looks nice with $51,000 ia 
three houses. "Snow White is hold, 
ing well at the Downtown and Hill- 
street but slipping off at Panteges, 
in Hollywood, appearing only $28,500 
for three spots in nine days of sec- 
end session. Moveover of "Two Girls 
and Sailor" in three houses looks 
very husky at $25,000. Fourthframe 
of "Dr. Wassell" is nice $26,500. two 
spots, and holds further. 

Estimates far This Week 
Cartkay Orel* (F-WC) (1.516; 80- 
$1 )— "Christmas Holiday" tU) and 
"Allergic to Love" (U>. great $10,- 
0CO Last week, "J Girls Sailor" (M- 
G) and "Bermuda Mystery" (20th), 
hefty $8,800. despite '"^shew. 

(biwu (Graumart-WC) 1 2,034; 
5*-$l ^"Christmas Holiday" <U> 
and "AHergie Love" (tt>. Socko $17.- 
000. Last week, "2 Girls Sailor" (M- 
G> and "Bermuda Mystery" (20th) 
great $15,100. ^ 

Omntowi (WB) (2,934; 50-$l>— 
•'Mask ESmitrios" (WB). Nitty $21.- 
000. Last week, "Make Own Bed' 
(WB) (2d wk), okay $12,500:. , 
E*y»ttaa (F-WC) (L535: 5tt-$l)— 



Broadway Grosses 



Estiatateii Total Grose 

This Week. $609,000 

i Basra on 15 t7teu:>cj) 
Total Grass Same free* ' / . 
"Last Year. . . . . . $397,50» 

(Based on 13 tncetre*» - 



CUFFS' LOFTY 
1%, SEATTLE 



4 



"White Cliffs" (M-G) (2d wk>. Solid 
$13,500. Last week, record $17,380. 

row Star (UA-WC) (9»; 50-85)— 
"2 Girls Sailor" (M-G) and "Ber- 
muda MysteryJ* (20th). Powerful $6,- 
COO on moveover. Last week. "Home 
Indiana 1 ' e20th> and . "3 Men in 
White" (M-G >.. "strong $4,500. 

Hawaii (GftS) (1.100; 50-$D— 
"Voice in Wind" : (UA) and "Natzy 
Nuisance" (ISA). (5th wk-4 days). 
Oke $2£9fl in four days. Last week. 

HaUywaa* (WB) (2,756; 50-$!)- 
"Dknitrios". (WB). Profitable $16,- 
tOOi ■ Last week, "Make Own Bed' 
(WB) (2d wk). Rood $9,500. ~ _ 
• Las Aaceles tD*town-WC) '2.200: 
MMtt)— "White Offls" 'M-G) ( 
wk). Stilt -great at $29,000. Last 
-week, smash $35,500. . 

Orphean (mown) (2,200: 65-980- 
"Follow Leader" (Mono) with Holly- 
wood Canteen Kids orth on stage. 
Good $18,000. Last week, "Curse Cat 
People'* (BKO) with Louis Jordan 
Five, nifty $21,400. . " ; .'•:-..•• 
. Paaaagcs (Pan) (2,812: 5fl-$D- 
"Snow White" (BKO) (reissue) and 
"Gil<iersleeve"s Ghost" (RKO) (2d 
•wk). .Dinning to $10,500 in final 
days. ' Last week, not up to hopes 
but solid $16v30O. 

r»»*ut (F&M) ( 3.389; 50-$l ')— 
"Br Wassell" (Par) (4th wk). Okay 
$18,000. Last week, good $21,000. 

raraBwaat Bettyweea) iF&M) U,- 
•451; 50-$D— "Dr. Wassett" (Par') (4th 
wk). Nice $8,500- Last week, nice 
$10v20uV one night out tor bond show. 

BKO Hilbtreet (RKO) (2.890: 50- 
80)— "Snow White" (RKO) i reissue) 
and "Gildersleeve'S Ghost" (RKO) 
(2d wk). Good S18J00 in 9 days. 
Last week, solid $23,900. 

■Ha (F-WC) (1,372: 50-$l )— "White 
Cliffs" (M-G) (2d wk). Big $11,000. 
Last week, sock $13,200. 

State (Loew'S.-WC) (2.204: 50-$l)— 
"Christmas Holiday" HJ) and "Al- 
lergic Love" (U). Smash $35,500. 
Last week. "2 Girls Sailor" (M-G) 
andi "Bermuda Mystery" (20th), 
handsome $29,400. 

Varied Artists (UA-WC) (2.108!: 
50-$l)~ "2 Girls Sailor" (M-G) and 
"Bermuda Mystery"' (20thK Great 
$10,506. Last week. "Home Indiana" 
t20*h:) and "3 Men in White" <M-G). 
hefty $8,800. '..''■ .• 

Vafcmrai tF-WO' ' 2596; 50-$l )— 
"Christmas Holiday" (U) and "Aller- 
gic Love" (U). Boffo $12500. Last 
week. "2 Girls Sailor" ' M-G) and 
. "Bermuda Mystery" i20th). big $9,- 
100. ■"• •,-■' ■ ;■- ""■ :. ; "" ." .,.'•••'. 

WUshire (F-WC) (2.296: 50-$D— 
"2. Girls Sailor" (M-G) and "Ber- 
muda' Mystery." i20tto.)'. Handsome 
$8.500.. Last week. "Home Indiana" 
(■20th) and. "3 Men in White" (M-G), 
neat $5,900. 

:-.-.WH*«*«- i WB) 1 2.500.: 50-$D— 
"Dimitrios" I WB). Hefty $14,000. 
Last week. "Make Own Bed" (WB) 
(2d wk >, okay S7.200. v.';.:' 



" " v Seattle, July 4. 
Holiday week finds many hold- 
overs here, but pace continues stout. 
Leader is "White Cliffs," smash at 
Fifth Ave. _ _ • • _ ,' " 

Estimate* far This Week". 
Blac Mease' (Hamrick-Everkreefi) 
(800; 45-»>— "Up in Arms" (RKO) 
and "Tamtan's Desert : . Mystery 
i RKO) (6th wk). . Good $4,500 in six 
days. Last week, nifty $5,400. Swell. 

Fifth Aveaae (H-E) (2,349: 45-80) 
—"White. Cliffs" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Smash $13,000 or over. Last week, 
great $16,500. 
Liberty (J-vH) (1,650; 45-80)— 
Mabel's Room" <UA) (3d wk). 
Solid $7,000 or near. Last week, 
$7,900, 

Mesie Box (H-E) (850; 45-80)— 
Pin-Up Girl" (20th) (4th wk). Big 
55.500. Last week, about same. 

Mesie Hall i H-E I (2,200; 45-80)— 
Roger Touhy" (20th) and "Ladies 
Washington" (20th). Stow $5*500. 
Last week "White Cliffs" (M-G) ' 
$8,000. 

Orakeam (H-E) . (2,600: 45-80)— 
"Man From Frisco" (Rep) and 
"Chinese Cat" (Mono). Mild at $8.- 
500. Last week "Between 2 Worlds" 
(WB) and '.'Kitty: OUay" (Mono), 
big: $9,600. 

PaUmar (Sterling) (1.350: 30-$D— 
"Lady Let's Dance" (Mono) with 
Rosita Royce topping vaude. Brisk 
$iOvO80. Helped by $1 holiday mati- 
nee scale. Last week. "Johnny 
Doesn't Live Here" (Mono) plus 
stage. $8,000.. ■'. ■ 

Paramount (H-E) (3.039; 45-80)— 
"Angel's Sing" (Par) and "Aldrich 
Plays Cupid" (Par) (2d wkj. Five 
days to hit holiday change. Okay 
$7,000. Last week, great $12,000. 

Roosevelt (Sterling) (850: 45-80)— 
"Two Worlds" (WB) (2d wk). From 
Orpheum, Tall $5\500 or near. Last 
week '.'Show Business" 'RKO). (2d 
wk). $6,u0ft. 

Winter Gardea (Sterling) (800": 25- 
50)— "Standing Room Only" (Par) 
and "Action Arabia" (RKO) (3d 
run). Good $5^000. Last week "Jane 
Eyre" (20th) and "Sons Russia 
(M-G) (3d run), dandy $5,400. 



CLEVL MILD ALBEIT 
/WASSELL' FAST 22i€ 

Cleveland, July 4. 

"Story ai Dr. Wassell" looks big- 
gest currently, soaring to smash to- 
tal at State. Others are not doing 
so hot. . . 

Estimates for This Week 

Allen (RKO) (3,000; 44-65)— "Snow 
White" (RKO). (reissue) (2d wk). 
Bright $12,000. Last week, "Home in 
Indiana" (20th) (2d wk), about same. 

Hipp (Warners) (3.700; 44-65)— 
"Sullivans" (20th). Good $16,000. 
Last week, "Snow White" (RKO) 
(reissue), husky $20,000. 

Lake (Warners) (800; 44-65 V— 
"Home in Indiana" (20th) (3d wk). 
Fast $5,000 on moveover. Last week, 
"Uncertain Glory" (WB) (2d wk), 

^Obi^^Loew's) (L206: 44-65>- 
'•Happcned Tomorrow" (UA). Fancy 
$8,000. Last week, "Three Men in 

White" (M-G), oke $6,500. ^ 
State (Loew's) (3,450; 44-65)— "Dr. 
Wassell" (Par). Great $22,500. Last 
week, "White Cliffs" (M-G) (2d wk), 
socko $18,500. . „, < „\ 

Stillman (Loew's) (2,700: 44-65)— 
"White Cliffs" (M-G) (3d wk). 
Smash $12,000 on m.o: Last week, 
"Meet People" (M-G), nice $7,800. 

'* 



'lndmna' Great 37G, Del; 'People,' 
Wald 31G, lady'-Leonard 21G, Fancy 



Key City Grosses 



Estiaiated Total Gran 

This Week ...K,$32^0» 

t Based on 23 ciwef, 181 thea- 

tres, chiefly Jtrsi rwn'i, maua'mg 

N. YJ) 

Total Gross Saaia Week 

- Last year... ........ -.$&3lMM 

(Based on 2* cities, 189 theatres) 



'INDIANA' FINE 
226 IN HUB 



'Angels' Fancy $18,500 
Port. Standout, 2 Spots 



Pix Troupes Given Key 
To New Mexico by Gov. 1 tastrw'eTkr "W-u^g 



. Gallup. -N; M.t July "4. 
Hollywood film . makers . weire • in- 
vited to send their troupes to New 
Mexico and were promised full co- 
operation and all the \ facilities.', of 
the state by Governor Dempsey. at a 
War Bond dinner where Paul Raw- 
lins, producer, and. John Rawlins, 
■ director, of tiniversai, were guests 
of honor. .'".•';'•■ :/.".'.; 

i Universal is filming "Queen Of the 
Nile" on location, here, with New 
Mexico impersonating Egypt. . .. 



Portland. Ore.. July 4. 

"White Cliffs of Dover" still is 
packing them in at the small United 
Artis theatre even though in third 
week. "And Angels Sing." day-date 
at Paramouint and Oriental, is stand- 
out with big biz insight. v . ' , 
Estfeautes far This Week 

Broadway (J. J. Parker) it.OOflt 
40-80,)— "Man from rViscb," (Rep) 
and "Trocadero" (Rep). MOd $7.000.. 
Last week. "Two. Girls Sailor" (M-G) 
and "Scarlet Claw" iU). strong 
$13,000. ■■ 

Mayfair I Parker-Hamxkk- Ever- 
green) (1.500; 40-80) — "Two Girls 
Sailor" ( M-G) and "Scarlet Ctaw" 
TO). Okay $&08Q. in ftve days.: Last 
week. "Happened Tomorrow" . <UA ) 
and "3 Russian Girls" (UA), $5,000 
in six days. * 

Uaited Artists (Parker) i900: 40-. 
80)— "White Cliffs'" («-Gn3<l wit): 
Solid $9..000. Last week, health v 
$11,000, 

. Orpkeum ,(H-E.) (1.800: 40-80. )— 
"Frisco. Kid" (Wfij i reisstie) a nd "T 
Days Ashore" (RKO). Light $&50». 
Last week. "Pin-Un Girl." (20thi and 
"Kitty O'Day" (Mono) 1 2d wk). in 
six days,, fair $8,200: *;•*;' 
• rttvh«»se (H-E) : H.200: 40-80) — 
"Frisco 1 Kid" (WB) (reissue), and v 7 
Days Ashore" (RKG'l. . Thin" $2,360: 
ri," : 'i2Sth> and, 
'Kitty O'Day'* (Mono) (2d wk): stow 
$1,800 in six days, 

■ raranowttt (H-E) (3,000: 40-80')— 
"And 1 Anifels Sing 5 '' (Par) and 
"Gildersleeve's Ghost" (RKO)". Strong 
$13,000. Last week. "Four Jills" 
(20th) and "Gambler s Choice" (Par), 
average $12;000: •..':'• 

Oriental iH-E> i2,040: 40-80)— 
"And Angels Sing" (Par) and 
"Gildersleeve's G ho.'s t" : ( RKO). 
Husky $5,500, Last week. "Once 
Upon Time" (Col) and "Can't Ration 
Love" (Par) (2d wk)> ordinary 
$3,500. 



lyWay'Recunl 
$56,080 in Phmy 

Philadelphia, July 4. 
i "Going My Way" is heading for 
a new house record this week at the 
Mastbaum. but generally biz was 
spotty with July 4 holiday weekend 
not helping downtown deluxers. 
Most folks headed for nearby 
beaches or left town, and few 
came in: ■ 

Estiaaaies for This Week 
AMiac (WB) (1J03; 40-85 )— 
"Snow White" (RKO> (reissue). 
Bangup $16,000. Last week, "Mabel's 
Room" (UA) (2d wk), mild $8,500. 

Arcadia (Sablosky) (600; 40-85)— 
"Make Own Bed" (WB). Fair $4,- 
. - , 500 on second-run. Last week, 
D1 §jh"Bardy's Blonde Trouble" (M-G) (2d 
r run), fine $5i,2fl0. . 

Bovd <WB) (2,56«; 40-85)— "Gas- 
light" (M-G) (3d wk). Good $17,- 
000 or close. Last week, sturdy 
$22,500.- 

Earle (WB) (2,760; 5K-96)— "Ghost 
Catchers" (U) plus Abe Lyman orch 
oti stage. Modest $18^Dfl. Last week, 
"3 Men in White" (M-G) plus Ink 
Spots, Ella Fitxgerald and Cootie 
Williams, on stage, broke all existing 
records here on band policy, going 
to terrific $46,600. , . 

Fox (WB) (2,245; 48-85)— "Home 
in Indiana" (20th). Fairly mild at 
$16,000. Last week. "Mask Dimitrios" 
(WB). modest $16,500. 

Karlton (Goldman) (1,000; 40-85) 
—"Lady in Dark" (Par). Fine $9,090 
second run. Last week, "Pin-Up 
Girl" 1 26th) (2d run), fairish $6,500. 

Keith's (Goldman) (2,220; 40-85)— 
"Days of Glory" (RKO) (2d run). 
Fair $5,000. Last week, "Ladies 
Courageous" (U) (2d run), mild 
$3,000 in five days. V 

Mastbaum (WB). (4,692; 40-85) — 
■"Going My Way" (Par). Terrific 
$52,000. plus $4,000 extra for Sunday 
show at Earle. Last week, "Up in 
Arms" (RKO) (3d wk), fine $18,500. 

Stanley I W3) (2,915; 40-85)— 
'White Cliffs" ( M-G) (2d wk). Po- 
tent $26,000 or close. Last week, 
torrid $33,500 plus added $4,200 at 
Earle on Sunday show. 

.Stanton (WB) " (1,475; 40-85)— 
"Hitler Gang" (Par), (2d wk). Fair 
$8,500. after fine $12,200. initiate. ' : .'' 



• Boston, 'July ,4. 
With nothing sensational offered, 
and scorching weather as a damper 
on all biz, totals are tame this week. 
Metropolitan is doing all right, how- 
ever, with "Story of Dr. Wassell." 
"Going My Way" in its sixth week 
downtown continues to show 
strength as one of most remarkable 
grossers seen in the Hub. : : 
Estimates for This Week 
Boston (RKO) a^OO; 55-$1.10)— 
"Happened Tomorrow" (Par) and 
George White's "Scandals" unit on 
stage. Modest $20,0flfc Last week» 
"Seven Days Ashore" (RKO) and 
"Blind Date," radio show on stage, 
did $32,000, wham for this time of 
year. '■• '. : : ■ - 

Fenway (M&P) (1.373; 40-74 )rr- 
"Going My Way" (Par). Emds third 
week (sixth downtown) at fine $6,- 
000. Last week, good $8,000. 

Majestic (E. M. Loew) (1.350; 
$1.10)— "Bernadette" (20th). Stilf do- 
ing fair in ninth week at $6,000, 
Last week, okay $10^00. 

Memorial (RKO) (2,900; 40-95>— 
"Home Indiana" (20th) and "Gilder- 
sleeve's Ghost" (RKO). Opened good, 
but slid off to nice $22,000. Last 
week, "Show Business" (RKO) and 
"Yellow Canary" (RKO), good $16,- 
000 for third sesh. 

Metropolitan (M-P) (4.367; 40-74) 
—"Dr. Wassell" (Par). Great $28,- 
000 in view of weather. Last week. 
"Pin-Up Girl" (20th) and "3 Men in 
White" (M-G), sock $25,000 in sec- 
ond week. :'..! 

Orpheum (Loew> (2:900; 35-74)— 
"Two Girls Sailor" (M-G). Okay 
$17,500 for second week. Opener 
$28,000. 

Paramount (M-P) (1,700; 40-74) — 
"Going My Way" (Par). Hit by 
heat, but still good at $10,000. Opens 
uptown Esquire for summer run. 
Second week (fourth downtown), 
hot $18,000. 

State (Loew) (3,200; 35-74 )— "TW6 
Girls Sailor" (M-GX Slow at $8,000 
after big opener of $I3i20O. . 

Translux (Translux) (900; 30-74)— 
"Sell My Life" (Indie) and "City 
Missing Girls" (Indie) (reissues). 
Strong at $«.0e0. Last week, "Two- 
Man Sub" (Col) and "1 Was a Spy" 
(Indie), fine $6,500. 



Detroit, July 4. 
While the holiday will help some 
here, the Fourth weekend is seeing a 
big trek out of the city. Biz is not 
top-flight compared to big totals of 
winter but the Fox is solid with 
"Home in Indiana** and "Allergic to 
Love." ..::->. ■ . ; . '.•' 

. Estimates far This Week V ~ "' 
Aaaau (Balaban) (1,700; 60-85) — 
"St. Mark" (20th) and "Louisiana 
Hayride" (Col) (2d wk). Moved 
from Fox for good $10,000. Last 
week, "Once Upon Time" (Col) (2d 
wk) and "Chan's Secret Service" 
(Mono), fair $9,600. 

Broadway-Capitol (United Detroit). 
(2.880; 60-85)— "Dr. Wassell" (Par) 
and "Lady Let's Dance" (Mono) (3d 
wk). Moved from Michigan, bright 
$14,000. Last week, "Show Business" 
j (RKO) and "Action Arabia" (RKO) 
i (2d wk). nice $10,000. 

Doaainra (Howard Hughes) 
(2.800: 60-96)— "Lady Monster" ( Rep) 
and Ada Leonard orch on stage. 
Nice $21,000'. Last week, "^Minstrel 
Man" (PRC ) and: Ted Lewis orch on 
stage, great $29,000. 

Fax (Fox-Michigan) (5,000; 60-85) 
—"Home in Indiana" (20th): and 
"Allergic to Love" (U). Great $37.- 
000. Last, week, "St. Mark" (20th) 
and "Louisiana Hayride" : (Col), dull 
$22.000.. - 

Madison (United': Detroit) ( 1 ,800; 
60-85) — "Unirivifel" (Par) and" 
"Fighting Sesibees" (Rep). Back in. 
loop for nice $5,000. . Last week, 
"Destination Tokyo" (WB). and 
"Heavenly Body'* (M-G), ditto. 

Mfchigan (United Detroit) (4.000; 
60-95)— "Meet the People" (M-G) 
with Jerry Wald orch on stage. Nice 
$31,000. Last week, ''Dr. Wassell" 
(Par) and "Lady Let's Dance" 
(Mono) (2d wk), brisk $22,000, 

Palms-State (United Detroit) 
(3.000: 60-85)— "2 Girls Sailor" (M-G) 
and "Night Adventure" (RKO). 
Likely $181000. Last week. "Un- 
certain Glory" (WB) and "Gilder- 
sleeve's Ghost" (RKO), disappointed 
at $16,000. 

United Artists (United Detroit) 
(2.000; 60-85) — "Hargrove" (M-G) 
and "Gambler's Chance" (Par) (3d 
w»k), slipping to only $10,000 after 
last week's nice $14,000. 



Pitt. Perks Up; Pin-Up' 
Bright 15G, 'Mask' 13iG 



3 K. C. Spots; 'WasselF 
Ditte, 'CMs' 14G, 2d 

. Kansas City. July 4. 

Turnstiles continue to click ; at a 
fast pace here despite torrid weather. 
"Home in tndiana," day-date at Es- 
quire, Uptown and Fairway, is the 
leader;. "Dr. Wassell" is getting the 
same coin with sock week at the 
Newman.' ; . *,. >■■■ 

"While Cliffs, of Dover." at the 
Midland, and "Snow White" with 
•"Yellow Canary." at the Orpheum,. 
are steady on holdover after boff 
j opening roumds. , 

. Estimates for This Week 
Es<|aive, Uptawa and Fairway 
i iFox-Mtctwest). (820. '2.043. and 700.; 
i 45>-65i)i— "Home in. Indiana" ( 20th). 
I Wham. S18..OO0.. Last week, "St.. 
: Mark" i20th). rugged. $12,700. : ■« 
i . MiaktMl (Loew's) (3s50O: 40r69)— 
, "White Cliffs." (M-G) (2d wk). Hefty 
; $14,000 alter great $20^.000 initialeri 
I Xewmaa (Paramount) 1 1,900; 45- 
155)— "Dr. Wassell" (Par). Socko $18,.- 
' 000'. :' Last ' week. "Two. Worlds" 
. < WB). nice $11,000;. ■„ - • '..."-:.- > 
Oraaeaa* (RKO) (1,500; 46-65.)— 
I "Snow White" (RKO) (reissue) and: 
"Yellow Canary" (RKO) (2d wk). 
. Brisk $11,000. Opening week, great 
$16:000. away over hopes. 

Tawer (Fox-Joffee) (2.100; .40-60). 
—"Lady, Let's Dance" (Mono) and 
"Trocadero" (Rep) with stage show 
headed! by Nick Lucas. Sparkling 
$11,000. Last week. "Bermuda Mys- 
tery" (20th) and . "Scarle'c Claw" (U) 
with vaude, okay $18 , > 3G8. 



DpraTime' Plus Vaade 
Paces Strong D.C26G; 
ToDow Boys' Nice 14G 

• Washington. July '4. 
Cooler weather sent grosses soar- 
ing this week being helped by July 
4 holiday scale. "Between Two 
Worlds" and "Once 'Upon a Time" 
look strong. . ;, ■ ' •■' ■ - "./-'■ 

Estimates far This Week ■ . 
Capitol (Loew) (3.434; 34-72)— 
"Two Girls Sailor" (M-G> plus vaude 
(2d wk>. BofTo $22,000 after opener 
at big $28,000. 

Columbia (Loew) (1,234; 34-72)— 
"Pin^Up Girl" (20th). Looks'' 'neat 
$7,000. Last week. "3 Men in "White" 
(M-G). grand $9,060. 

Earle (WB) (2J40; SO-SOO^Once 
Upon Time" (Col) with vaude. 
Sturdy $26,00®. Last week, "Mask 
Dimitrios" ( WB), excellent $22,000.' 
Keith's (RKO) (1.880; 34-66)— 
. "Follow Boys" rUX Forte at $14,000. 
Pittsburgh, July 4. 'Last week, "Days of Glory" (RKO), 
Long holiday weekend : should season's low at t0.1t>.' . 
boom things generally on. top of j Metropolitaa tWB) ( t.800- 35-55) — 
satisfactory openings all along 1 he ! "Two Worlds" (WB). Brisk : $l).000. 
line. Harris got -o.fr strongly with i Last week, "Uncertain Glory" iWB), 
"Pin-Up Girl" and "White Cliffs of I average $6;000, 

Dover" is holding up well in second Palace (Loew) (2,778- 34-72)— 
week at Pean.. . ] "White Cliffs" (M-G) (2d wk). Hold- 

Estimates far This Week ing. up, strongly at $22,000 alter first 

Falton (She.a) (1.700: 40-65)— week's sizzling $24,9001 

"Home in Indiajia" < 20th ) (2d wk). 

House , has been fighting the heat 
since it's the only 'Hrstnm downtown ,' 
without air conditioning. Consider- 
ing that, this is doing .mighty well at 
$5,500. Last week, went to $9,000; 
sturdy.. : .■,"■' ; v ' .:'.'•. . : : . '■ '"-.-■ 

Harris (Harris) (2.200: 40-65)— 
"Pin-Up Girl" y>0th). Got away like 
a .house afire and should hit swell 
$15,000: East, week, second of "Once' 
Upon Time" (Col), down .t0'$S,50O, 

Peaa (Loew's-UA) (3.300; 40-63)^ 
: "White Cliffs" ( M-G ) . 1 2d >k )>. Tear- 
.terker holding 1 up. nicely: okay $I&- 
000;. . Last week, strong $28.000.. 

Rita ( WB) 0800.; 40-65.)— "Made Me 
Criminal" (WB) 1 and: "Brother Rat" 
. ( WB). Two reissues are .j;ust ge-ltting 
| by at $2,5001, Last week. "Navy Way" 
(Par )> and "G'ambter's Choice" ( WB K 
bSfa $2,000. • ."'•':. ',■ 

Senator (Harris) ( 1.750:. . 40-65)— -' 
"Stagecoach" (UA). Reissue is do- 
ing very .'well. Looks .-.robust $3..O00 j 
or better.. Last week. "Stars On' i 
Paorade" (Col) and "Attack" (RKOK I 
n.g. $1,800. . ■.'". .': . ■■ , j 

Sia'aley (WB) .( 3.800c .40-65)— I 
"Mask of Dimitrios" ( WB). .House! 
has dropped stage shows for a' while! 
and this opens its: straight picture i 
policy. • First-rate , if not smash, at 
$13,500, or near; Last week. Henry 
Busse's band and "Meet People" 
(M-G), 'di-ab at $16,000. ■: ■ . 

Warner ( WB). (2.00O; 40-65.)— "Two 
Girls Sailor" (-M-G) »M wk) and 
"Attack" ( RKO ) (2(1 wk). Bill held 
over here. "Sailor" having previously 
played Perm: Nice $6,080. Last 
: week, bangup $8,090. ■'>. • 



FOURTH OPS INDPLS ; 

' /':'••';. Indianapolis. July 4. 

Bia here shows irrapjrovenient this 
stanza on strengjih oif tluree-day holi- 
day over the FourtBi. "Story of 'Dr. : 
W3sseH"-'at the. Indiaima is' the front 
ruintier. wttlr : "Two. Girls and a 
Sailor" holding: up welt in a second, 
week at Loew's. ' 

Estinates far This Week 
Circle (Katz-Dolte) (.2,800: 32-55) 
—"Two Worlds" ( WB) arid "Slightly 
Terrific'" (RKOX Oke $10,000'. Last 
week. "Days of Glory" (RKO) and 
"7 Dajrs Ashore" (RKO). sad $7,000. 

IwKaaa '(Katz-Dolle) (3.300': 32-55) 
—"Dr. WasseH" (Par).. Sizzling $14,- • 
500. Last week, "FoUo.w Boys'' (U-Jv . 
SIO-.80O; • ... : ± '[ :>"":••'" 
'L*W»- (Ixew's)" (2.450: 32-55)—' 
"Two. Girls Sailor'" iM-'G): Dandy 
$.1Ol0O0i after big $14,500 "first sti)nza., ; 
: .Lyrie (Katz-Dolle> .i.I.680 ! : 32-55)— 
"Home in Indiana" (2flth) and "Par- 
don Rhythm" (U). Better than. aver- 
age $4,800' in secontV week of move- 
over. Last week, fat $T,8O0i- . 



MATTHEWS-HALE DIVORCE 

- LoffiKtbrr. July 4, 
Jessie Matthews, British legit and 
picture actress,, has ' t r < y eit' awarded 
an ir.terrocutory decree from Sonnie 
Hale, actor and producer.' 
Action was not defended. 



Wednesday, July 5, 1941 



PICTURE GROSSES 



17 



Rochesto -Sherwood Up Yellow Rose' 
Big 37G, Chi; 'Cliffs' Tall 396, 2 Spots 



Chicago. July 4. ■¥ 

With several new pictures on tap 
and many visitors in the city for the 
holidays, current week looks healthy. 
"White Cliffs of Dover." day-date at 
Apollo and United Artists is headed 
for $39,000 total, Eddie Anderson, 
"Rochester" and Bobby Sherwood's 
band will push "Yellow Rose" to 
great $37,000 at the Oriental; "Cobra 
Woman" should get neat $20,000 at 
the Palace. , 
v Estimates for This Week 

Apollo (B&K) (L200; 55-95)— 
"White Cliffs" (M-G). Sturdy $14,000. 
Last Week. "Hour Before Dawn" 
(Par) and "Knickerbocker Holiday" 
(UA > <2d wk.). fair $7,000. 

Cliicaso (B&K) (3.900; 55-95)— 
"Going My Way" (Par), plus Harry 
Richman and Dave Apollon heading 
vaiide Mth-wk.). Great $63,000. Last 
-week, about same. , 
* Garrick (B&K) (900; 55-95^— 
"Mabel's Room" (UA) (2d wk.). 
Sweet $10,000. Last week, snappy 
$12,000. ■ ■ 

Grand (RKO) (1.150; 55-95)— "In- 
visible Man's Revenge" (U) and "Re- 
turn Ape Man" (Mono) (2d wk.), 
Pleasant $8,000. Last week, firm 
$9,000. . .: 

Oriental (Iroquois) (3.200; 44-95)— 
"Yellow Rose of Texas" (Rep) plus 
"Rochester" and Bobby Sherwood 
orch on stage. Smash $37,000. Last 
week. "She's Soldier, Too" (Col), 
plus Sonny Dunham orch, others on 
stage, solid $24,000. 

Palace (RKO) (2,500, 55-95 )- 
"Cobra Woman" (U) and "South of 
Dixie" (U). Neat $20,000. Last week. 
"Days of Glory" (RKO > and "7 Days 
Ashore" (RKO). good $15,000. 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1.500; 55-95)— 
"Home in Indiana" (20th). Choice 
$20,000. Last week, "Passage Mar- 
seilles" (WB), five days (3d wk ), and 
T'Home In Indiana" (20th), two dsrys, 
smart $18,000. 

State-take (B&K) (2,700; 55-95)— 
"Dr. Wassell" (Par) (2d wk.). 1 Great 
$38,000. Last week, ditto. 

United Artists (B&K) (1.700: 55- 
95)— "White Cliffs" (M-G). Fine 
$25,000. Last week, "Hargrove" 
(M-G) (4th wk.), strong $17,000. > 

Woods (Essaness) (1,200; 55-95)— 
"Up In Arms'* (RKO) (10th wk). 
Exceptional $18,000. Last week, ditto. 



Fever" (M-G) and "Black Parachute" 
(Col), $6,000. 

Strand (United Amusements) (715; 
35-45)— "Man Frisco" (Rep) and 
"Call. South Seas" (Rep).: Fair $2,700. 
Last "week, "Return Ape Man" 
i Mor»o) and "Law Men" (Mono), 
$2,800; ' -..'-/ >"'-.■ 

Orpheum (CT.) (1.100; 35-45)— 
"Blanche Neige et Les Naihs" ("Snow 
White"— RKO) (reissue). Torrid $5,'- 
000. Last week, "Quand L' Amour 
Reprend" ("Love You Again" — Par) 
(reissue) (2d wk ), big $4,500. . 



'Angels' Rugged $15,000 
In OK Cincy; Haiders' 
Fast 12G, 'Cliffs , 10G, 2d 

. Cincinnati Jul}' 4. 
Favorable summer marks are be- 
ing chalked up at all downtown 
stands. Of the firstruns, "Angels 
Sing." at the Albee, is out in front. 
"Marine Raiders" looks brisk at the 
Palace. On holdovers, "White Cliffs , 
and "Home in Indiana" are both I 
strong. 

Estimates for This Week ■ 
Albee (RKO) (3,100; 44-70)— 

"Angels Sing" (Par). Pleasing $15.- 

000. Last week. "Once Upon Time'' 

(Col), fair $12,000. J 

Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 44-70)— 

"White Cliffs" (M-G) (2d wk). 

Strong $10,000 after great . $15,000 

lnitlaler. 

Family (RKO) (1.000; 30-40>-- 
"Slightly Terrific"- (U) and "Range 
Law" (Mono) split With "Detective 
Kitty O'Day" (Moho)| and "Wyoming 
Hurricane." Normal $2,200. Ditto 
last week for "Gun Slingers" (Mono) 
and "Hot Rhythm" (Mono) divided 
with "Port Missing Girls" (Indie) 
and "Boy Streets" (Mono) (reissue). 

Grand (RKO) (1,430: 44-70)— 
"Home in Indiana" (20th). Second 
week of m.o. Neat $6,000 following 
sock $9,500 last sesh. •.:•'■'■•'•''..', 
Keith's (United) (1.400: 44-70)-^ 



Indiana Solid 
$17,500, St. Louis 

■ , ' St Louis, July jfc^l' 
The Fourth w^U bolster biz 'at"'de- 
luxers this week, despite three hold- 
over fills. Ambassador, with "Home 
in Indiana" and "Candlelight in Al- 
geria" and Loew's with "White 
Cliffs" in second session look out- 
standing and about same coin. 
Estimates for This Week 
Loew's (Loew) (3.172; 35-55) — 
'White Cliffs" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Should tack on fancy $17,500 to the 
sock $25,000 grabbed for first week. 

Orpheum (Loew) (2,000; 35-55)— 
"Two Girls Sailor" (M-G) and 
"Black Panther" (Col) . (2d" wk). 
Trim $6,200 after a neat $7,000 ini- 
tialer. 

Ambassador (F&M) (3.000; 50-60) 
—"Home in Indiana" (20th) and 
"Candlelight Algeria" /20th). SoUd 
$17,500. Last week, "Two Worlds" 
(WB) and "Lady Lets Dance" 
(Mono), fine $15,000. 

Fox <F&M> (5,000; 50-60)— "Mask 
of Dimitrios" (WB) and "South of 
Dixie" (U). So-so $11,500. Last 
week. "Follow Boys" (U) and "Scar- 
let Claw" (U), $12,500, 

Missouri (F&M) (3,500: 50 -60)— 

mm 



'WasseJT Trim $13,000, 
L'vffle; '2 Girls' 10G, 2d] 

Louisville, July 4. j 

Holiday of four days is proving a j 
big help to downtown- b.o.'s y Grosses 
are fairly okay all over town.- Best.]' 
grosser looks like "Dr. Wassell" at ; 
the Rialto. '...'■' _ j 

Estimates for This Week 

Brown (Loew's-Fourth Avenue) 
(1,400; 40-60)— "Home in Indiana" 
COth). Third downtown week, fine 
$4,000 after first week big moveover 
here at $6,000 . . . 

Kentucky (Switow) (1,200; 30-40 ) 
-^-''Passage Marseille" «WB) and 
"Swing Fever'- (M-G). Good $L700. 
Last - week, "Broadway Rhythm" 
(M-G) and "Two-Man Submarine" 
(Col), $1,600. 

Loew's State (Loew's) (3.300; ' 40- 
60)— "Two Girls Sailor" (M-CV and 
"Underground Guerrillas" (Col ) (2d 
wk). Nice $10,000. Last week, solid 
$13,000. 

Mary Anderson (People's) (1.000: 
40-60)— "Mask of Dimilrios" (WB). 
Mild $3,800. Last week. "Made Me 
Criminal" (WB) (reissue). $3 500. 

National (Standard ) (2,400: 35-75 ) 
—"Drums- Fu Manchu" (Mono ) and 
Renfro "Valley Barn Dance Revue 
splU_with "Army" (WBJ.— Shaping 
fbrstufoj- $7.0f»: Last week," "Shake 
Hands Murder" (PRC) and "Gay 
Nineties" revue on stage split with 
"Died With Boots On" (WB) and 
"Maltese Falcon" (WB) (reissues), 
$6,000. 

Rialto (Fourth Avenue) (3.400: 40- 
60) — "Dr. Wassell" (Par). Leading 
current week's lineup at robust $13.- 
000. Last week, "Follow Boys" (U), 
strong $14,000. 

Strand (Fourth Avenue) (1.400: 40- 
60)— "Touhy, Gangster" (20th ) and 
"Ladies Washington" (20th). Oke 
$4,000. Last week, "Man from Frisco" 
(Rep) and "Silent Partner" (Rep), 
light $3,000. 



Fourth on B way No Wow But Time 
Huge 130G, Holiday' Big 37G; 'Ape 20G, 
"Beauty* Lush 25G, 'Raiders Okay 19G 



and "Show 
(2d wk). Grand 
$10,000 on initial 



~Pin-Up— Grl 
Business" (RKO) 
$8,000 after fine 
week. 

St. Louis (F&M) (4,000; 40-50)— 
"Up in Arms" (RKO) and "Passage 
Marseilles" (WB). Average $4,500. 
Last week. "China" (Par) and "Fly- 
ing Tigers" (Rep), $4,300. 



Nelson-Uard Boost 
7 Days' to Loud $18,000, 
Mpls.; 'WasseH' Fat 15G 

. Minneapolis? July 4. 

Strong product continues to keep 
biz up here. " Ozzie Nelson band and 
Harriet Hilliard, topping a stage ar- 
ray, will boost "Seven Days Ashore" 
to great week at Orpheum. Radio 
City, with "Dr. .Wassell,-" looks big. 
Best holdovers are "White Cliffs of 
Dover" and "Christmas Holiday." 
Estimates for This Week 
Aster (Par-Singer) (900; 25-35)— 
"Slightly Terrific" (U) and "Monster 
Maker". (PRC). Good enough $2,000 
in fouK- days. "Trocadero" (Rep) and 
"Silent Partner" (Rep), open today 
(4) for three days. Last week, "Crime 
School" (WB) and "Moon Los Vegas" 
(U>, okay $2,500 in six days. 
Century (P-S) ( 1 .600: 44-60 )— 

- I "Christmas Holiday" (U) (2d wk). 

- j Moved here from good initial week 



"Once Upon Time" (Col). Move 

over. Average $4,500. Last- week: "3 5 jrf -RaxJro City. May rer*ii fair $6;0e5: 
Men in White" (M-G) : and "Night j Last week! "Snow While" ...(RKO) 
Adventure" (RKO), nine days, fair i reissue) <2d.wk). thin $3,500 on 
$6,000. /,| moveover from Orpheum 



hme'-vaode 
big 18g, balto 

'--.-'-'■ Baltimore. July 4. 
Holiday weekend reflected itself 
rather well at downtown theatres 
hei^.'^nie-Stor5t-of-Dr-^Wassell~-at- 



the Stanley, is very potent. "Once 
Upon a Time" coupled to vaude at 
the combo Hipp also is up in front. 
"Home in Indiana" also is solid at 
the small -seater New. . 

Estimates for This Week 

Century (Loew's-UA) (3.000: 20- 
60)— "White Cliffs" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Holding up strongly at $16,000 after 
hangup $19,200 initialer. 

Hippodrome (RappaporO (2.240: 
20-74)— "Once Upon Time" (Col) 
plus vaude. Robust $18,000. Last 
week, "Days of Glory" (RKO) and 
vaude headed by Walter O'Keefe, 
fairish $15,700. 

Keith's (Schanberger) (2.460: 20- 
60)'— "Double Indemnity" (Par). 
Opened last night (Mon.) after two 
good weeks of "Cobra Woman" (U) 
at $14,200 and $10,300 respectively. 

Mayfair (Hicks) . (980; 25-55)— 
"Lady. Let's Dance" (Mono). Fairish 
$4,500. Last week, "Jam Session" 
(Col), mild $3,800. 

New (Mechanic) (1.680: 20-60)— 
"Home in Indiana" (20th t. Rugged 
$10,000. fine figure for this capacity. 
Lav>t week, second of "St. Mark" 
(20th), so-so S6.800. 

Stanley (WB) (3,280: 25-66)— "Dr. 
Wassell" (Par). Boffo $19,000. Last 
week, second of "Angels Sing" (Par), 
fine $12,700. 

Valencia (Loew's-UA) (1.840: 20- 
60)— "Somewhere Find You" (M-G) 
(reissue). Attracting some biz at 
$4,500. Last week. "Two Girls Sailor" 
(M-G) moveover from two excellent 
sessions in downstairs Century, solid 
$6,700. 



Lyric (RKO) (1,400; 44-70)— "Hour 
Before Dawn" (Par) and "Aldrich 
Plays Cupid" (Par). All right S5.000. 
Last week.. "Uninvited" (Par) (3d 
wk),.'trim $4,500. • 

Palace (RKO) (2.600; 44-70) — 
'Marine Raiders" (RKO) . Brisk $12 - 
000, Last week, "Cobra Woman" (U) , 
all right $10,500: - 



'Hargrove' Big 12€, Mont'l 

, . Montreal, July 4. 

Hargrme," at the Palace, will 
take top honors in town this week, 
with the balance about average. - . 
Estimates for This Week 
Palace (CT) (2.700; 30-62)— "PiN 
vate Hargrove" (M-G). Fine $12,000. 
Last , week, "Passage Marseille" 
(WB) (2d wk). handsome $8.000. : ' 
Capitol (CT) (2,700: 30-62)— "Two 
Worlds" (WB) -and "Men oh Mind" 
•PRC}. Looks nifty $8,500. ' L^st 
week, ','Blonde Trouble" (M-G) and 
Bermuda Mystery" . (20th) , smart 

v Loew's (CT) (2,800; 35-67 )— '-'Gas- 
light (M-G) (3d wk). Lush $8,000 
ior thud week after okay $9:000 on 
seqond. ! , ' 

.Princess (CT) (2,300: 30-52)— 
!>now White" (RKO) (reissue), 
t'ood $6,500. Last week, ''Swing 



Gopher (P-S) (1.000 ; 40)— "Aldrich 

' Plavs Cupid" (Par) . Mild $3,000. 
! Last week, "Meet People" (M-G), 

• same. • • -. . . ■ "• ''-V-.-'-^ " '■':•'...;.-. :, 
! Lvric (P-S) (1.100; 44-60)— "Cobra 

Woman" (U) (2d wk). From Or- 
I pheuin, -.Satisfactory $5,000: : Last 
i week, "Once Upon: a Time" (Col), 
| light $4,500 oh m.o. : . 
I Orpheum (P-S) (2.800; 44-70)— 
i "SevaYi Days Ashore'.' (RKO) and 
lOzzie. Nelson -orch. Harriet Hilliard. 
others, on stage. Stage '•shovjfebl'inging 
I them in. Looks hefty- $18,000:. ' Last 
! week. "Cobra Woman". (U) (44-60), 
j good $9,000. -•■.•■ * 
*t Radio Citv (P-S) (4.000: 44-60)— 
"Dr. Wassell". (Par). Arousihg atten- 
tion thanks to advance bally. Looks 
big $15,000. Last. .'week:. "Christmas 
' Holitiav" (U).'fKncv $14.000.. 
- State (P-S) i (2:200:- .44-60) — "White 
Cliffs" (M-G) '2d wk). This one 
' good $9,000 on h:o: after .'gigantic 
$16,000 first week. 
; Uptown (Par) (1.100: .40-50)— "Buf- 
falo Bill" (20th ). First nabe -showing, 
okay $3,000. Last week, "And Angels 
' Sing" (Par). $2,800. :? : .. '. .'.- . 
' World (ParrSteffes) (250: 44-80)— 
] "Catherine""'the Creal" (UA) (reis- 
;sue). Looks mild $2,000. Last week. 

• "St: Mark" (20th ) ' (2d wk ), fair 
$2,200. V. 



msseir Heads Buff., 
Brisk 19G, '2 Girls' 15G 

Buffalo. July 4. 
"Dr. Wassell" ,'is setting the pace 
this week at the Lakes, but "Two 
Girls and a Sailor" is not far behind 
at the Buffalo. - 

Estimates for This Week 
Buffalo (Shea) (3.500: 40-70)— 
"Two Girls Sailor" (M-G). Tidy 
$K,000. Last week, "Caslight". .(M- 
G). robust $.18,000. ---^ .:.'.: „ 
'" Great 'Lake's (^Hea')^r%000f -40-70 1 
—"Dr. Wassell' (Par). Loflv $19,000. 
Last week. "White Cliffs" (M-G ) (2d 
wk). strong $14,000. 

Hipp (Shea) (2.100; 40-70)— "Gas- 
light" .(M-G ). Hetty $3,000 oi\ move- 
over. Last week.. "Meet . People" 
( M jG ) ■ and "Spider Woman" ( V ), 
sparkling $9,000.: 
! Lafayette (Basil). <3.:i00: 40-70 )— 
i "Cobra Woman": (O)'and' "Pardon 
I Rhythm"' (U). Trim $11,000. Last 
week, "Once Upon Time" (Col) (2d 
wk) and "Something About Soldier" 
(Col),. robust $8,500. "•. . 

20th Century (Ind.) (3,000; 40-701. 
! —"Marine Raiders". (RKO i and "Gil- ' 
i derileeve'* Ghost" <RKOl. Dahriv 
$15,000. Last week. "Days of Glory" 
(RKO:i and "Rosie Riveter' 1 '(Rt-p;; 
okay $9,000. : ';.-'■ '■•'• 



Independence Day this year, a 
four-day weekend for most people, 
was short of expectations on Broad- 
way where prayers for some rain 
and cooler weather went un- 
answered. While transportation of- 
ficials reported travel exceeded that 
of last July 4. the crowds that hit for 
Times Square and the film theatres 
were judged in managerial circles 
and elsewhere as much smaller. They 
may have hit for beaches, ball games, 
the races and other places instead. 
Also, it's belieyed that this year the 
outgo was larger than: the influx, 
whereas ordinarily on holidays it's 
the other way around. ODTs warnr 
ing not to travel may have scared 
the out-of-towners more than the 
N. Y. natives. y-' - ' ■ 

The Music Hall got a lion's share 
of the trade. Playing "Once Upon a 
Time." whiclr^was brought in Thurs- 
day (29) and opened " very- strongly," 
it looks to hit $130,000 or close, 
terrific. Paramount, haven for kids, 
who are how out of school, could 
have done more but has no squawks 
at $71,630 on the ninth week, ended 
last night (Tues.), of "Going My 
Way" and Charlie Spivak since this 
matches the figure for the previous 
(8th) frame. - : .' ,- -' -':' . '-'■ ' ■ 
Among new pictures Of past week, 
very strong is "Christmas Holiday" 
which finished its first seven days at 
the Criterion at $37,000 though falter- 
ing a little from its teeoff pace, with 
picture having had a record opening 
day at house. "Bathing Bieauty" 
rounded out its initial week at the 
Astor Mon Jay night (3) at $25,000, 
sturdy take. Not doing stoutly but in 
a satisfactory groove is "Marine 
Raiders" which looks to do about 
$19,000 at the Palace on first round. 
Globe, which brought in "Hairy 
Ape." Saturda- (1). is hitting a nice 
albeit not sensational $20,000. or 
better.:. :...:■ 

State, with "Private Hargrove" on 
second-run, plus Benny Fields and 
Willie Howard in person, is not socko 
for a July 4 holiday week, but rates 
ju^l^bove-4«cent-aver-age-at-$34;050 
or near, for good profit. 

Two minor first-runs during the 
past week turned to reissues, Gotham 
bringing in "Dead End" Which is do- 
ing well at $11,000 while Victoria, 
currently with "Kid from Spain," is 
disappointing at $9,000. Also "Fan- 
tasia" is on reissue at the Manhattan. 
Estimates for This Week 
Astor (Loew's) (1.140; 60-$1.20)— 
"Bathing Beauty" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Wound up first week Monday night 
(3) at $25,000. sturdy. Final (4th) 
stanza -for--^Hargrove" (M-G), oke 

$13,900. --^v.—- . •;: 

Capitol (Loew's) (4,820; 60-$1.20) 
— Two Girls" (M-G), Sammy Kaye 
orch. Three Ross Sisters, Paul Win- 
chell (3d wk). Holding up vigorous- 
ly and will probably hit $75,000 this 
week, beating second's of over $70.- 
000. stout. Holds further, with 
"Since You Went Away" (Selznick- 
UA)- slated to open July 20, with an 
invitational preview the night be- 
fore. 

Criterion (Loew's) (1,700; 60-$1.25) 
VChristmas Holiday" (U) (2d wk), 
Concluded first: week last, night 
(Tues.) at $37,000. very good. The 
eight days on second week of "Se- 
cret Command" (Col) was poor $8,-' 
500. 

Globe (Brandt) (1,416; 60-$1.10).— 
"Hairy Ape" (UA). Going well 
though not sensationally at $20,000 
or over, and holds. Last week, 
fourth for "Roger Touhy" (20th), 
okay, at nearly $10,000. , 

Gotham (Brandt) (900 : 60-98)— 
5D^.«S64?^U6SsU Xrctes.u.e,) ; ... QM. 
Sain Goldwyn gangster item will hit 
about '«ll;000.-go6dv:-Last «*c!c,: fifth 
for "Happened Tomorrow" (UA), 
$5 500. mild, 

Hollywood (WB) (1,499; 80-$1.20) 
: — "Skeffirigton"; ( WB ) (6th wk). Not 
! aided much, by holiday, current (6th J 
I lap appeai-ing only $21,000 or less., 
[fair. Last week '5th), $22,000, mod- 
erate,' . •.'.-'' '- " - ';'-,'■ 
Palace (RKO) (1.700: 60-$1.10)— 
"Marine Raiders" (RKO). Failing to 
-catch on strongly but will be satis- 
] factory at, indicated $19,000 and 
i holds. Last week, second for "Days 
vol Glory" (RKO), was only $14,000, 
r.-friirr.- : 

- Paramount (Par) (3.664: 60-$1.20) 
" --"Going My Way" (Par) and Charlie 
' Spivak (10th-final wk). Huge money--' 
i making show, second, to go -as 'long as 
1 11), weeks here, hit an excellent $71.- 
, 000 on ninth canto, same as eighth. 
; House :' got substantially better play 
! on the ..July 4th we.eke.iid than roost 
, others. .y.' .V ": '•--.■-:'.'•'- '' 

1 Radio Citv: Music. Hall (Rockefel- 
j lersi : (5.945: .60-$ 1:10)— "Once Upon 
:'Time" (Col) and' stageshow. Away 
J at a very fast clip, prospects are san- 
j «uine for $130,000 or close, excop- 
! tionallv big, Holds .over. Last week. 
. seventh for "White Cliffs"- (M-G) 
■ topped .$100,000, nothing short of 
• amazing for that far down . on a run. 
j Picture on, the seven weeks grossed 
$780,000 to establish- an all-time rec- 
\, «V& for any engagement of 49 dciys in 



the history of industry. Taken out 
only because Metro wants to get it 
rolling while invasion story is hot. 

Rialto (Mayer) (594; 40-85)— 
"Mummy's Ghost" (U). Doing nicely 
at near $10,000. Stays over. Third 
week of "Invisible Man's Revenge" 
(UK down to $6,000 but oke for sum- 
mer. - . '..,-: . '■ '-■. 

Rivoli (UA-Par) (2,092; 60-$1^0)— 
"Dr. Wassell" (Par) (5th wk). Con- 
sistent biz-getter, fourth week hav- 
ing wound up Monday night (3) at 
$39,000. good, while third was $42,000. 

Rosy (20th) (5.886; 60-$1.20)— 
"Home In Indiana" (20th), Enrio 
Madrigucra orch. Hazel Scott. Joe 
Bcsser and Carmen Amaya (3d-final 
wk). Under expectations for holiday 
at $70,000 for second week concluded 
last night (Tues.) but good profit. 
Initial seven days, strong $86,000. 

State (Loew's) (3,450; 43-85)— 
JiPxivate Harsrave" (M-G) (2d wk) 
and, in person. Benny Fields. Willie 
Howard, others. Not a whizz-bang 
for Fourth of July but well over re- 
cent average at $34,000 or close for 
nice profit. Last week "Gaslight" 
(M-G) (2d run).-: "Gay Nineties" 
Revue and Denny Decker, orch, 
strong $31,000. 

Strand (WB) (2,756; 60-$1.20)— 
"Mask of Dimitrios" (WB), Louis 
Prima orch and Phil Regan (2d wk). 
Considerably under hopes at $38,000 
or bit better, but goes another week. 
First week, big $49,000. 

Victoria (Maurer) (720: 60-$1.10>— 
"Kid From Spain" (FC) (reissue). 
Old Eddie Cantor starrer, first reis- 
sue to be played by this small-seater. 
under hopes at $9,000. Last week, 
second for "Teen Age" (FC). near 
$10,000, okav. 



Way Socko 14G 
Tops Prov. HO. s 



Providence, July 4. 
"Going : My Way" still strong in 
fourth week, and leading holdover 
list which includes v ' White Cliffs of 
Dover" at Loew's State, and "Home 
in Indiana" at Majestic. RKO Albee 
opened "Marine Raiders" yesterday 
(3). Circus hit town Monday (3) for 
two-day stand but still enough 
customers all around to keep most 
houses" happy. 

. Estimates for This Week 
Albee (RKO) (2.100; 44-55-60)— 
"Marine Raiders" (RKO) and "Twi- 
light Prairie" (U). Opened Monday 
(3). Last week. "Ghost Catchers" 
(U) and "Yellow Canary" (RKO), 
snappy $9,800. 

Carlton (Fay-Loew) (1,400; 44-55) 
—"Somewhere Find You" (M-G) 
and "Shake Hands With Murder" 
(20th) (2d run). Moderate $4,000. 
Last week. "Touhy, Gangster" (20th) 
and "Candlelight Algeria" (20th) (2d 
run), fairly steady $3,500. 

Fay's (Fay) (2,000; 44-55) —"Cow- 
boy and Sen of its" (Rep) and "Make 
Own Bed" (WB). Good $7,500. Last 
week. "Two Worlds" (WB), $7,000. 

Majestic (Fay ) (2.200; 44-55)— 
"Home- in Indiana" (20th) and "Cas- 
anova Burlesque" (20th) (2d wk). 
i Nice $12,000 after hitting nifty $15,- 
000 opening sesh. ^ 

State (Loew) (3,200; 44-55)— 
"White ClifTs" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Fancy $12,000 after wow $21,000 in 
opener. 

Strand (Silverman) (2,000; 44-55) 
—"Going My Way" (Par) (4th wk). 
Setting records here; opened fourth 

•k«>:.-»ft-Jfes:iay .•■('34."-Tbifst 'w««k-wae' 
solid $14,000 remarkable in view of 
' tronii"$I71)0D' i.fl first week and great 
$19,000 for last week. ';••' . .-' 



'3 Men'-Hutton Robust 
$14,500, Omaha's Best 

,- Omaha. July 4. 

Torrid weather and- long weekend 
pulled lots of people out of city, biz 
being hurt. Ina Ray 'Hutton is boost- 
ing "3 Men in White" ttp_ top coin ai 
the Oroheum. 

Estimates for This Week 

Orpheum (Tristates ) (3.000;. 20-70) 
—"3 Men in White" (M-G) and Ina 
Ray Hutton orch on stage. Good 
$14,500 or ^ncar. Last week, "Swing 
Fever" (M-G ) and Ozzie Nelson band 
revue on stage, sock $19,000°. 
* Paramount (tristates) (3.000: 16- 
60)— "Dr. Wassell" (Par). Sock. $12.- 
000. Last week, "Gaslight" (M'G). 
nice $10,200. -.'."■'.-■ 

Brandeis (Singer), (1.500: 16-60)— 
"Address ■ Urikrrown", (Col) and 
"Make Own'Bcd" (Col). Fair enough 
$6,000 in six days. Last week, "Ma- 
rine Raiders" (RKO) and "Lady 
Let's 'Dance" (Mono), okay $7,100. 

Omaha (Tristates) '2.000: 16-60)— 
"Touhv, Gangster". (20th) and- "HI 
Good Looki.ii" " (U). Slipped to good' 
$7,500 or close. Last week, "Chip 
Old Block" (U) and "Son Dracula" 
(U). ntcp. $9,200. -'~~ ' ■ : 



■18 



Wednesday, July 5, 19-14 



GOODNIGHT TO THE BLUES 
High speed hilarity. It's the dizziest, 
blues-chaser of the season 





GOODNIGHT 




H O B f fl T L I V ! 0 i S T 0 fl a ff d R U IH T E fl R y 



HENRY HULL 

THURSTON HALL 



MttfcH MNMY-liiHtn 



tRAHT WITHERS 
lllfD CORRIGAN 



fl RtP II 1 1 I { IIS I U I t 



Jtm TK FHSHTIN6 FIFTH WAK IMH 



^BBi 1 ■•..v-5 



Wednesday, July S, 194-1 



VARIETY 



PICTURES 



19 



Literati 



Journalistic Idea ; 

A New York Democrat's idea of a 
solid non-partisan paper is PM. .-'.' 



More Argentine Stuff 

■Allen Chase's "Five Arrows" 
(which is the insignia of the 
Falange) ' is a forthcoming Random 
House novel based on fact-fiction 
having to do with a certain South 
American country. Chase, who 
authored the widely controversial 
"Falange" for Putnam two years 
ago. did the foreword for 'Argentina 
Diary'' (also Random House) by Ray 
Josephs, "Variety" mugg in B. A. 
and also longtime correspondent for 
PM m. Y.) and the Chi Sun. 

: Josephs, currently jja Mexico City 
on a Latin -American survey trip 
north, is slated for a W. Colston 
Leigh lecture; tour. 



11-T's Femme Copy Reader 

. What to N. Y. newsmen represents 
new low in that field's manpower 
shortage is action of the Herald-Trih 
in engaging its first femme copy 
reader. She's Virginia Rosen, added 
to the rim of that paper's copy desk 
a* initial petticoat influence in that 
part of the city room. •,; 

Femme copy readers common on 
Out-of-town dailies, with some copy 
desks wholly, bereft of males at this 
stage of the armed services' demands. 
But uncommon as yet in N. Y. Mrs. 
Rosen is from Rochester, and did 
newspaper work there, '*-*/ 



Tycoons Turned Mystery Authors 

The eminently successful man jyho 
for one reason or another turns to 
Writing mystery stories , and then 
triumphs in that field is getting to be 
almost a literary pattern. For ex- 
ample, John Buchan, statesman; 
Willard Huntington Wright, editor; 

. Evils Stanley Gardner, criminal 
lawyer;, and now H. W. Roden, presi- 
dent of American Home Foods, Inc., 
arid a top man in the advertising 
field, Morrow sold more copies of his 
first novel than any first mystery it 
ever published. His second thriller, 

^T^o-Bus^y-to-4iie,'^wlrte-X)ttt--Au;gr 
B3. . 



Hal Mode's Book 

'This Hero Business" (Gold Label; 
. |2); by Hal fiode, executive, assist - 
ant to Jack Cohn,. v.p. of Columbia 
Pictures, Is breezy, light reading. It's 
•written in a pungent humorous vein 
dealing with a punchy prizefighter 
who's an easy touch for dames and 
hi* manager. 



.v..- Pageant In Sept. Bow-In . 

First issue of the hew Hillman 
publication, Pageant, dated Octo- 
ber, will be out the end of Septem- 
ber. Contributors will include Prin- 
ces* Alexandria Kropotkin, Mrs; 
March Hereford. Henry Albert Phil- 
lips, Julian Lee Rayford, Robert 
Moses, Robert Humphreys, Arthur 
Daley and/others. Magazine, of gen- 
: eral interest in appeal, will be 
pocket-size, running 150 pages. It 
will carry no advertising. 

Staff, in addition to Eugene Lyons. 
ex-American Mercury, as editor, 
will include Emile Schurmacher, 
formerly of American Weekly staff, 
as managing ed.. and Edythe Far- 
reU; ex-Police Gazette ed.; Frances 
Gloncott, ex-Liberty, and Tony 
Fields as associate editors. 



CHATTER 

Ruth Boyd has quit the McKeogh 
and Boyd literary agency to ijdb scrib- 
bling oil her pwh., '..' '"-;••' .;'. ' 

John Dos Passes and his wife. 
Katlierine, who scribbles, too', vaca- 
tioning in Virginia. '"'-',.'- 

Al Perkins, Look mag's film, radio 
and television director, married Jane 
Dean over the week-end. 

Mark Sherwin, N, Y. .Post picture 
editoiv doing a series of radio scripts 
for. the Hillman niags on the side. 

Arthur Hurwitcli the-ne.w war edi- 
tor ot the N; Y. Post, succeeding 60- 
bert Cant. who's gone to Time magi ' 

John Kiirrow. film director, is writ- 
ing lus third book, a biography of 
Father Miguel Pro, Mexican martyr. 

Benjamin .'.Zimmerman; added to the 
Saturday. Review of Literature ccHt 
tonal slafV. He's. -from the Philly 
Record. .'/."' " . ';. '}■'{'_■.'■ 

Good timing is Stanley. Walker's 
forthcoming boom oji "Dewey:. 
American of This Century'.' (Whit-, 
tlesey ). ; ' . • . ■ 

Clark Kinnaii ci, for past five years 
associate editor or; King Features 
Syndicate, appointed assistant editor, 
ot the American Mercury. 
. Allan Will .Harris, former Balti- 
more Sun aviation editor, now 
handling public relations for Fair- 
child Engine and Airplane Corp., 
N. Y, - ' ' " 

GVacie. /Allen, who recently cov- 
ered the Republican National Con- 
vention, - is considering an offer to 
■write daily paragraphs for the Nash- 
ville Tennessean. ■'• '-, .;;•'-.' 

Lenore Ferber, daughter of Nat 
Ferbe'r, has left the N. Y. Journal? 
American for an editorial post with 
the Hillman mags. ; Nat, who gained 
fame with the old N. Y: American, is 
jiOw publicizing Douglas Aircraft on 
the Coast. '■";.'■ ' .', ' .« ' ..' 

Charles Guy Bolte, former mili- 
tary affairs writer for OWI, has join- 
ed Ziff-Davis as assistant public re- 
lations director. Publishers p a. de- 
partment, directed by Chace Conley, 
is located in N. Y., staff including 
Rose Crengal, Frank Stevens, 



Pix Guilds Unite 

Si Continued from page 3 S55 



possible the freedom of the screen 
from such self-appointed censors as 
the Motion Picture Alliance .for the 
Preservation of American Ideals.' 

4— To develop a program of pub- 
lic relations to inform the public 
generally of the importance to the 
whole '..IT. S. of maintaining free ex- 
pression on the screen, with proper 
safeguards for the public welfare. 
, 5 — To prepare a plan, in coopera- 
tion with the Motion Picture Produ- 
cers' Association, for re-absorbirig 
motion picture workers now in the 
armed forces into the industry after 
the war is over, no matter how far 
distant that may seem at this time. 

6 — To study how Hollywood's' con- 
tribution to the successful, prosecu- 
tion to a completely victorious con- 
clusion may be increased and made 
more effective, and to put into effect 
all possible measures to that effect. 

7 — To make periodic reports to 
the Guilds and Unions, which it rep-' 
resents, and whose authority and, 
autonomy shall be in no way in- 
fringed upon or lessened by their 
agreement to work together in this 
manner for their mutual benefit. 

8— To invite other Guilds and 
Unions in the industry to join the 
Council of "Hollywood GiiiHs pnrl 



Flacks Speeding Up On 
Pin-Ups to Servicemen 

Hollywood, July 4. 

Studio pool to facilitate the hand- 
ling of pin-up pictures for /service- 
men overseas , was organized by pub- 
licity directors of major lots 

Harry Brand. 20t,h-Fox, - was 
elected chairman of fhe P.ub!!c .In- 
formation .. Committee ."': and John 
Joseph, Universal, was re-elected 
chairman of . the group's executive 
committee,-. L 



Plenty of Theatres Change Hands; 
Other Briefs From Exchange Keys 



Film Reviews 



Los Angeles. July 4. 
Ownership of two downtown film 
houses changed hand-, in separate 
deals. Joseph Moritz bought the 800- 
seat, Victor from William Sobelman. 
and Rooert Lippert purchased the 
480-seat Mecca from William Fulton. 



TIm' MuiijiiivV l.liosi 

. TTinver*:}) l ''Ic:isiv(>l'/Tt.-ii J'ivin 1 |iri','luci inn. 
SUir* l.un Oi;<*i»\v : : I'c-ii I lii .Inhn <'urj l ;niilli>, 
J(irtiw;iy A (UK* Bm lun \I H-l.niii.. <ii iute 

XutVO, Hgli'TI r i y. \ >in'll,-'i ),\; Jtfnl' r 

nal.l he J!..i:s. 'Wi-iwrijiljiy. Mli'lrlln -.lay; 
Hi»pry S.oi'hyr,. Hi:i»nila AVi'islifrK; oi-iyinni. 
J;o : and ■ ShcIi.t; t-iiuifi ;.t, - U'iltin in cJii-Un.'M'; 
fj/IUor. S;il.ll t'.'KKlliiii.i; . Hiiil'u,, ■ ,V. yj; 
June'Itfl,-. '! I. Jtunnfng- iii'ii,*, (iO .MI NS. , 
Khii] i>' , ■ , ... , , tj.n ' Ch ijiej 

■Xstvwi ,.,*■;„;',,...•.....,..,. Juhn l e u uriinc 

torn lli'nvv . .', . . . ... . ...... . . li,,h,>n l,o«>i »- 

.Miiiim, ... .... K iiihu Ann - 

lh<i|)efliir U ,-h . , U u-ic.n .Msii I rnf 

>HK.i, >>ne»i . . i „■■ /:„•, : , 

J'ioi' NiMiui.n . l-'intik Iit'iil if , 

Slionff. , , ii.iim Sliiuniui, 



2 K. C. Nabcs Sold 

/Kansas. City, July 4. 
Gladstone , theatre, habo house in 
northeast part or city, bought by 
Herinan Illmer fiom General Ameri- 
can lnsu ranc, company at a re- 
ported $48,000. .Another nabe. the 
Aladdin, purchase'd by Bell Theatre 
Carp, from Mrs." John 'Thompson for 
$40,000. ■ V ■ ••.:' / 



Spiers First 'Beast' 

/ Hollywood. July 4, 
First job for Robert Spfer under 
hi* new producer contract at- Metro 
will be "The Beast Must Die," 
screenplayed by Robert Tallman. 

Before checking in at Culver City, 
Spier produced the "Suspense" pro- 
gram on the an 



Cert's Beef on "Best Stories" 

Random House publisher Bennett 
Cerf, saying he's "sick of the snob- I ^pcu^; „flfti^wg^i- w 

••ws«r'-:o^^^^ 

point of- view'' : - govewlng- -sefeerHyi, 
of the annual "Best American Short 
Stories," has arranged with Herbert 
Mayes, Good Housekeeping editor, to 
put- out -a new annual, this one to 
Include only stories from magazines 
With over a half-million circulation. 

Publisher claims the "Best Stories" 
annual, first edited by the late Ed- 
ward J. O'Brien and now by Martha 
Foley, is unrepresentative and "sus- 
pect," its stories being picked mainly 
fr«m the subsidized and* little-known 
'arty" magazines. In the 1944 edi- 
uon, soon to come out, says Cerf, 
Editor Foley ''overstacked her cards." 
Sixteen of the 30 stories come from 
such periodicals as Accent (3,), Par- 
tisan Review (3), Story (2). Tomor- 
row (2i, Yale Review, Southwestern 
Review, Kenyon Review and New 
Mexico Quarterly. Although the 
New Yorker and Harper's Bazaar 
contributed six stories each, says 
Ceit. it's "unutterable nonsense" to 
assume that mags like the Post, 
Journal, Harper s, Cosmo, McCall's. 
Squire and a dozen others ydidi^t 
Publish a single Mt^fWa: year 
Worthy to be in tiie\';3'0 «best." 
..,^ e, ' , '-Mayes annual is tentatively 
"tied "Editor's Choice," 



"The Mummy's Ghost" contains the 
usual stock ingredients of the horror- 
thriller.: But careful direction keeps 
the, suspense sustained, and a good 
production and plausible perform- 
ances help make the. film Satisfactory, 
entertainment, A godd dualer. 

Juxtaposition of ancient tombs of 
Egypt and prosaic midwest .' college 
town aid in giving the film plausi- 
bility as well as interest. Yarn con- 
cerns the remains of Princess Anan- 
ka, which were taken from Egypt to 
America, The'. Princess'?- Had, been 
gunished 3.000 years ago for loving 
one Kharis. a subject beneath -tier. 
Kharis' punishment has been to be 
kept alive in mummified form, to 
guard the Princess/ tomb. Balance 
of film shows Kharis' attempts to re- 
turn the Princess' incarnation, ending 
in a . weird finish reminiscent of a 
famed incident in "Lost Horizon." 

Lon Chaney has a weird but effec- 
tive getup as Kharis, and his 'limping 
figure barging through the country- 
side makes good drama. John Car- 
radine acts a modern-day Egyptian 
priest with plausible understatement, 
and George Zucco is persuasive as 
the-^high— priest:- Ramsay Ames— is- 
unusually attractive as the unfortu- 
nate reincarnation of the Princess, 
and Robert Lowery is appealing as 
the boy friend. . Broil. 



Warners Adds 3 iii PottsloWn 

Philadelphia, July 4. 
. Warner . Bros, "has announced it 
would take Over operation of StriUid 
and Victor, both in Pottslown, Pa., 
on Oct. 1. Houses have been tinder 
lease, for last 10 years to William 
I Goldman, local indie exhib.. who has 
been feuding with Warners here re- 
cently, Warners, owners of properly, 
take over both houses at expiration 
ofthe Goldman leases. 



Laiv of Hi<» Satlill^ 

rl*.C releas*. of Sitfinnml .\VufelJ- uroOur 
tiiHi'i Start* liob 1,'f vlniiSllnit, features At 
ll-'uzzyl St, John, Bally Miles.- I.ane .(.'liunil 
)"r. Jolin KlDott. Directed tty Melville T)e 
t,ay: - Stoiy ami adaptation. Kreil ;Uvlnn; 
Alitor. Hnlbronk N". Totl.l;' .rttwra. Jtiihei-t 
("line.. Al New York,- N, Y.. dual. • we.ej; 
June 27. '13. RUftnln^ time, 5». 3IINS.- 
Rocky t'unieron . i. . . . . . . . . Boll r.ivingMlon 

Fiftzy 3vnmi. .......... At IKuz/.y) HI. .lolin 

ftayle. ... .Belly Allien 

Sieve Kinney . . . . ... ..... I,ane ( '.handler 

Dan Klrby..., .John Elliott 

»vn.....;, .-Reed Howe* 

•loe ..,./...,„i,,.,.,. .t'urly Dieaden 

Bait. . . . , i . . .•,.*,,..-.'.... . . . A I Fei'KUNOn 

Vic. .'.Frank Ellis 



6-In-l Press Book 

Conserving on. papr-r, printing, ink 
and work, Warner Bros, has pre- 
pared a composite pressbook to cover 
the six re-releases .which It / is mak- 
ing available during July, r .. / / 
The picttires are being sold under 
a package deal rather than singly. 



W00DIN VICE JOHNSTON 

" Hollywood, July 4. 
Republic appointed Larry Woodi'n. 
former theatre operator in Pennsyl- 
vania, to succeed John LeRoy John- 
ston- as. studio publicity director, 
'Vjohtlsloir^moves into 'Thternational 
this week to run the publicity-adver- 
tising deparlnieut. - 



Routine western, but one which 
has sufficient action to please the 
average follower of this type of fare. 
Running time is short enough at 59. 
minutestto make the picture a con- 
venient fit for double bills> ; </ 

Bob Livingston, . starred, plays a 
wanderer whose specialty appears to 
be that of rounding up rustlers and 
other baddies of the plains. In this 
case he's called in to get the goods 
oh a crooked sheriff, who moves 
from town to town with a gang of 
/looters an^ highwaymen, using the 
expedient of getting himself elected 
constable as a coyetup. Livingston, 
however, is on to the sheriff s game, 
and finally corners him for a kill. 
He has as his steady aid the wizened 
prairie-country character, Al (Fuzzy.) I 
St. John, who supplies comedy relief. ' 
The girl is the daughter of a rancher | 
who gets bumped off. She's a per- 
sonable young lady. Betty Miles, who j 
might graduate from westerns ulti- 
mately; ■;- .-.. '"'•'.'; 

Lane Chandler makes a good heavy 
as the conniving sheriff, while John 
Elliott does well as' his first lieuten- 
ant. Lessers include Reed Hpwes. 
Curley Dresden, Al Ferguson and 
Frank Ellis. Char. 



I . - - ... 

N. Y. Femme Doorman 

Workers tn sku ts have taken over 
managerial posts in theatres, are 
manning— books in many of the ex- 
changes and doing other jobs, includ- 
ing one who recently hit the road as 
a film peddler, but latest is a door- 
lady. She's Maria Menez. an 18- 
year-old of Philadelphia, who. re- 
cently came to N. Y. with footlights 
and marquee glamor On her mind. 
Stumbling into the Rivoli, N. Y., one 
day looking for anything to do, 
Monty Salmon, managing director, 
put her on the jjoor. 

Par's Canadian Convention " 
Charles M. Reagan, Paramount's 
sales chief: Oscar Morgan, shorts 
sales manager, and Bob Gillham, ad- 
publicity director, attended Par's 
sales convention last week in/ To- 
ronto. 

Gordon Lightstone, Par's g.m. in 



Canada, who presided at sessions, 
had Stan Atkinson.' president Of 
General Films, pioneers in the 16^ 
millimeter field, as guest. Atkinsom 
told the convention about the distri- 
bution of 16-mm. Par product which 
he has /just taken Over in Canada,-. 



RKO's "Step Lively" Contest/ 
RKO held a special screening of 
"Step Lively" last week for its thea- 
tre managers in Greater N. Y. area 
aijd vicinity as a' prelude to launch- 
ing a contest among managers for 
the best ad suggestions for this pic- 
ture when it plays N. Y;. Brooklyn, 
Long Island and Westchester, county. 
Cash 'prizes-will be awarded. 

Homeoffice execs also attended th« 
screening and buffet slipper. ; , 



New Houses In III. -Post-War 

St. Louts, July 4. 

Frisina Amusement Co., Spring- 
field. III., plans building two new 
houses after the war ends, one in 
Woodale Township. III,. Springfield 
area, costing $150,000. and the other 
a $200,000 house in Keokuk, la. 
Frisina operates in both areas. 

Two local employees Of Loew'.V 
Inc., awarded 10 and 20-year pins as 
part of Metro's Anni celebration. 
They are J. Zimmerman/ office man- 
ager, and Mary Vaughn, chief in- 
spector,, J., Frank Williftaham, branch 
manager, received 20-year pin re- 
cently at Memphis. 



RKO House Managers on II. O. fours 

RKO theatres" N; .Y. General Man- 
ager J. M. Brennan has inaugurated 
a system at homeoffice whereby each 
week one house' manager from the 
"NV Y.-Westchester-N. J. area will 
serve as his assistant at the home* 
office. ' i 

Each manager will probe the inner 
workings of the h.o. on his one-week • 
lour and become acquainted with 
problems of circuit operation. Most 
of the time will be spent in the ex- 
ecutive, booking, publicity, mainte- 
nance, accounting and personnel 
branches. 



CAPITOL 

■'WAY a S>« ST. 

TWO GIRLS 
I AND A SAILOR J 

! M-O-M'i | 
Ship-Shopatyl 
Muttcslf. 



, IN PERSON 

£winq t, Swmy with ■; 

f SAMMY KAYEl 

mn4 hit ORCH. pfui .. 
S ROSS SISTERS 1 

CXTR* . 

MUl WINCHEU 



"HOME IN 
INDIANA" 

.A SOtli Century -F»i rirlnrs . 

HI, Ntncs POXY * 

Hliow '\ 7* .. " , :, «oiii St,: 



•ABAMOl-NI'S 



"GOING MY WAY" 

.."',: With BlNG CROSBY 

la IVr<HMi 
CHABMK srilAK »n«I Bund 



BETTE DAVIS 

* An R'arner Bros.' Hit!. . 

4 MR. SKEFFIIVGTON' 

;.; 'with : 

Clnusle llainis 

broadwav .i 5i,t ST. HOLLYWOOD 



Seadler Bowing Out 

As PRC Chairman 

Although the usual weekly meet- 
ing of the Public Relations Commit: 
tee (eastern group),- was not held last- 
Thursday (29 I." members of the com- 
mittee.. balloted for a new. chairman: 
with Votes to be tabulated; this 
Thursday. Si Seadler. of . Metro;; is 
present chairman, each one serving 
six months and only those who -have 
not- served being eligible. 
. F. F. Rosenberg; of Columbia; Jfal 
Home, of 20th-Fox; and Lou Pollock 
of UA, were voted on for next chair- 
manship term.. Plan is lo.have each 
major company represented as chair- 
man by. vote rather thaii picking 
them alphabetically, only 20th-Fox. 
Columbia', and UA hot 'having had 
a thaimtan of PKC. .-, 



tiTv 10 MUSIC HALL 

"OINCE UPON- ; -; , 
,;-.A TI.ME" . 

Spectacular Stags Productions 



WARMER BROS. HIT 

"THE MASK OF DIMITRIOS" 

;'- ■ , '/■'•: .- .' -.-'• 

8ydn«y Gi-efltlltrcet Ziehiry Scttt 

',-' P«t«r Lgrrt ; ' . 

IN PERSON 
LOUIS PRIMA and His Orch. 
EXTRA AODEO ATTRACTION 
PHIL REGAN 
Air-Co'iditiftiHiil 

BROADWAY »l 47th ST. S T RAND 



TH m'ti m rii«« TECHNICOLOR 
MUSICAL 




Set SttlweM in the War's Most Incredi ble Venture 



THE LATEST MARCH OfTIME 

■ Readied by 20lh C«ntwvFox 



RED SKELTON '•" ESTHER WILLIAMS 



Continuous xool Ooors 0p«« 

Populai Prices *st\STOi*L 10 A M 

B'yyay & 45 St. 



PALACE 



8 WAY & 
47th St, 



'MARINE RAIDERS' 

PAT ROBERT RUTH 

O'BRIEN - RYAN - HUSSEY 



■"r,\lt;\.MOL',N'l' rKKSKNTti" 11- " 

GARY COOPER in 
CECIL B. DeMILLE S 

"The Story of Pr. Wosssll" 

IN TICC'HMCOI.OR 

— nnuu inn, si. 



On Hcrfrn 
Tlium,, Juljr ft 

"Sensations 
of 194S" 

SlMcrluK . 

Elsasor Pswsll 



III l'rr«,n 

Gracie 

tarrie 

■ • 

•enny 
Rubin 




PreJoctd by ROBERT HUOWS • Directed by TIM WMIIAN 
%ti—n pley by W«Mwn Duff •nd P«f*r Miln* 



9-r 



RADIO 



Wednesday. 



July 5, 



1911 



Palmer Urges Radio Audit Bureau 
To Remedy Survey 'Doubt, Disbelief 



■ Chicago, July 4. + 

Need for an Audit Bureau of Radio 
with' a single yardstick of audience | 
measiii ement. was, forcibly brought 
out iii a speech before the Chicago 
Radio ■Management-Club here- last- 
week by. Fred A. Palmer, manager 
WCKY. Cincinnati. Palmer stressed 
the fact' that; such an organization 
would be able to command the same 
respect, that the Audit Bureau of Cir- 
culation enjoys in the newspaper 
field. "Such an organization," he. 
said ' would relieve the radio Indus r 
trv Of being a whispering gallery of 
rumors, . doubts and disbeliefs of 
most . present-day surveys." 

|L B Wilson, WCKY prexy, told 
"Variety" several weeks ago that 
consideration, of such a move should 
be No, 1 on the NAB convention 
agenda— Ed. I 

One of the chief criticisms of sur- 
veys todsy. Palmer pointed out, is 
the. size of the sample.. How for ex- 
ample, he said; when there are two. 
or. "three radio listeners contacted 
during a quarter hour can you divide 
them amOng.as many as five broad- 
casting stations, as in Cincinnati, and 
more "in Chicago. 1 . Many of the sur- 
veys- are made by telephone calls 
from homes by women who are not 
properly supervised,, he.pointedout. 

"A- st andardized plan would avoid 
pre.-eiit .duplication" he said, "It IS 
estimated. ■ that between three and 
five million dollars .annually is being 
spent: in this; country for surveys in 
approximately 33 markets. If we could 
avoid duplication, it is my 'opinion 
ba. 

surveys we have taken, there could 
be surveyed: more- than, a hundred 
.markets at ;ho- additional expense." 
In the matter of duplication he 
brought out . that .in some towns' 
Where three, four or. five surveys are 
going on at" the same time, -.efforts 
are: "being made, by city councils to 
pass ordinances forbidding telephone 
survey's entirely. : "'; ; -''Y 

Palmer offered two plans for rem- 
; edying the survey situation, one for 
the present and a post-war plan. He 
suggested, that an independent bur 
reau of five people be set up: one 
from the NAB, representing the sta- 
tions:, one from the networks; one 
from the four A's, representing the 
agencies arid one. from the ANA. 
representing the national advertiser 
or client. This bureau would es- 
tablish a standard method of meas- 



Philly's 'Catholic Hour' 

Philadelphia, July 4. 
A new religious program', "The 
Philadelphia" Catholic Hour," starts 
next week on W.FIL. Believed first 
lime -local. Archdiocese has tied up 
tt'itli a station on a continuing show, 
"[ It'-wiK be aired each Sunday after- 
noon and will be pr&duced under 
supervision of Rev, John H. Donnelly, 
University Of Pennsylvania chaplain, 
and Rev, A. L. Qstheimer, Of Roman 
Catholic High. School. , 



Blue's Production 
Div. Blues in Chi 



-"-■'■'/• '-: Chicago, July 4. 
-Major shakeup in the Blue Net- 
work's central division production 
department is . seen , .with the de- 
par '...r. «; of James Stilton, program 
director who. joins, the Marines to- 
morrow: .<5>; as a , com missioned of-, 
fleer.; Network, officials here, have 
long been dissatisfied With the at- 
titude, of the production department 
iri; ;.refusing '.' to' give hearings to 
writers, actors, directors and others, 
which was a complete reversal of 
the ■• network's policy of "it's always 
easy :to do business v/ith the Blue." 

Changes are being held up pend- 
ing the arrival this week of Mark 
d upon the cost of some of the | Woods, and, Edward . J. Noble. De- 
cision as to. whether" to seek a hew 
production head from without the 
organ Nation, or up a Blue staffer to 
the top production snot will be made 
at that time. ' During their, stay here 
Noble and Wood will again confer 
with Burridge Butler on the sale of 
WLS to the Blue Network. 



Dull Convention? 

Chicago, July 4. 
Jack Ryan, NBC local : pub* 
licity head, is a master of self- 
defense and :has his arm in a 
sling a/nd a cracked collarbone to 
prove it, Here's how -it hap- 
pened; ' . '•-,-. •":■' ■'■ ■..'".■,.:;-,;"■•- '-'-.' 

During the Republican Con- . 
vention. Ryan invited Ca'pt. 
^Tom Knode, of NBC's Washing- 
ton office, -who isrmedically-dis- 
: charged , and wearer of the : 
D.S.C., to hiriiome. Ryaii pro«_ 
ceeded to demonstrate how to 
defend oneself if attacked in a 
barroom by smashing -, a glass 
stein and using the jagged edges . 
as a weapon. Capt. Knode 
argued he could fend oft such an 
attack by commando methods so 
Ryan went through the motions 
V of breaking the. stein, lunged in 
. a' gesture of assault and. found 
himself on the floor. iNot.the 
face on the barroom floor). 

Ryan claims ha proved his 
point, theoretically, and the fact, 
that the captain finished un- 
harmed and he ended tip in • 
sling, was pure coincidence: 



From the Production Centres 



Lever Bros. Purchase Of 



Pepsodent May Cue Agcy. 
Switch on Sinatra Show 

Chicago, July 4. 
Strong possibility that the Vimms 
Frank Sinatra ' show - might move 
eventually from J. Walter Thomp- 
son to Foote, Cone & Belding was 
| seen here last week with the pur- 
chase of the Pepsodent Co. by 
Plans call for the mov 



Blue Snares Top 
Spot on All-Round 
Chi GOP Coverage 

..:'. Chicago, July 4. 
Roundup of the four networks' 
coverage- of th& Republican National 
Convention appears to give the Blue 
Network the No. 1, slot with' the 
best all-around coverage; Mutual, 
with several top flight features, tied 
for second place with NBC. whose 
main claim to, fame was ; the .five-, 
min ute network interview' w ith Gov. 
Dewev at Cleveland, where the GOP 



urement and the minimum number . . 
of contacts in each market and it ] „ _ 

would be up to them whether to use "'S o' all ^ever Bros, drug products 
coincidental telephone, door-to-door. I to Ch.cago under the general super- 
direct mail, . or a combination of 
several. A- complete checking su- 
pervision would be used on the sur- 
veys. Existing survey organizations 
would do the jobs, which one could 
do it best for the least money and 
all based on requirements as laid 
down by the Aduit Bureau of Radio. 

Other plan Suggested the same bu- 
reau of live members with work en- 
tirely handled' by the Western Union, 
pointing out that before the war the 
Western Union actually .' made tele- 
phone surveys and door-to-door sur- 
veys already ha- e trained super- 
visors. This plan would also put re- 
turned, disabled veterans to work in 
making surveys, the one armed man j 
can make door-lo-door calls; the vet- j 
eraii who lost a leg can dial a tele- 



vision of Charles Luckman, prexy 
| of. the Pepsodent Co. who . for many 
| .years has been on (he Closest of 
terms with Foote.-- Gone & Belding in 
developing the Bob Hope show. 

Lever Bros, purchased the tooth- 
paste company for an estimated 
SIO.000,000 with Francis "A.,Count- 
j way, president of Lever Bros., han- 
dling. Principal, stockholders of 
I Pepsodent were Kenneth Smith, 
[ A. D. Lasker and Luckman. Rest 
of the stock was closely held by a 
■ lew ton executives. - : 



.'phone-, anclso down the line. 



'Parker Famfly' 
Gets B-M Go- 



By 



Bristol -Myers - 
"Parker Family" 
work alter,.:*} . th 
current 13"w:66k 



the 



is; dropping 
Friday Blue' net- 
: expiration of -the 
cycle: Program 



budgeted at about $2,000 weekly, has 
been occupy lug the period'from 8:15 
to 8:30 . p,.m,. invariably hovering 
around the . 3 /rating mark. Last 
Hoop.ei ating. for the stanza was i.'L.. 

;v, Sponsor reportedly has been disv, 
sr. >:iot! with the, show for a long 

.time ptid .is ..currently negotiating 
with. Blue web execs for a half-hour 

■ slot to put in a. new 'show, , format ~of 

•which is still undecided. 

,:. - Doherty. Clifford & Schenfleld is 
the agency on the "Parker" account. 



WARING-PHILCO DICKER 
COLD; WHITEMAN STAYS 

I Negotiations between Fred Waring 
for , hi>- Pennsylvanians band and 
j. choir to join Philco's "Radio Hall of 

f B"ai'n;e"'"i'aiifti 'to fell' "are;- the week-- 

(•end. Paul W.hiteman Continues 'as 

I maestro. Waring, who has another 
bid from J. Walter Thompson 
(Owehs-IllinpisV,:. will probably take 

L that 'although, that s not set. 

i. Waruigs proposal with Philco 
also : called for taking over of pro- 
duction-writing responsibilities, with 

: "Variety." of course. Continuing as 
judge of the show biz -frames, and 

j other personalities, selected for the 

| Hall, of Fame. ■: ,, ' YY '- ■ 

: . Whitcman - has 'been' co-emceeing 

[ the summer replacement hour on the 
Blue w ith Glenn Riggs.: regular an- 
nouncer on. the show, who continues: 
A personality to., co-headlin'e HOF. 
with Wh.iteman has yet to be decided 
upon between now -and Sept. 3 when 
the .' Fame" series resumes. Deems 
Taylor- was e'mceii. the first 26 weeks. 
Bob-- Wamboldt. present .producer- 
di.re.ctpi of. the summer series, con- 
tinues: at the helm, with. Eddie Saul- 
paugh .is aide.. 



" Ernest Truex's NBC Show 

• NBC has waxed a , new comedy : 
drama willi. Ernest Truex in the lead 
for a sustaining evening spot. 

Decision, whether to air it or . not 
will be reached this week. ; ■'■'- 



New; Ifork.^-With the appointment 
of Ralph liowite as WLIB asst. 
chief engineer, station, now boasts 
a husband-wife: control room team, 
Mis. Wini liowite having joined the 
station six. months ago as an engi- 
neor. -•'■-,•'■, ": '•'.- , -■- •;. '' ...,'• 



nominee's plane stopped for refuel- 
ing en route to Chicago. CBS won 
the cellar position with; Bob Trout's 
smooth delivery, on the color of the 
convention its standout feature. ;- ; 

Blue Network plan of coverage 
called for each of its 10 top commen- 
tators to specialize on one particular 
phase of. the convention, with G. W. 
(Johnny) Johnstone, the Blue public 
events chief, doing a- "Cecil B. De- 
Mille" on which of the commentators 
had the best air material at a given 
moment. Johnstone, as a result of 
the Blue's unique setup, was able to 
syphon' off all the run-of-the-mill in- 
terviews and concentrate on those 
men who had a "hot" story or per- 
sonality ready to put on the network. 
Running the entire setup on the 
"order of a newspaper city 'room, 
Johnstone created a competitive 
spirit hitherto unknown to radio. 
Lineup of - the commentators was 
Henry J. Taylor, policies of the Re- 
publican, party; Bill Hillman. GOP 
foreign policy; Earl Godwin, human 
interest; H. R. Baukhage. Reublican 
farm program;' Ray Henle, political 
analyzing: Leon Henderson, domestic 
policy: Martin Agronsky, effect of 
the GOP foreign policy on the armed 
forces; Mark Sullivan, general color* 
Harry Wisme.r. . roving reorter, and 
Patricia Daugherty, women's angle. 

Mutual's top honors were shared 
by Fulton Lewis. Jr., who did a top 
-dj-'awej:. .ruouiu^ . _Cftmjiie,ntary , job. 
from the .speaker's platform;! Leo 
CfieVne. whb was easily tli* . dark 
horse of the convention with an 
amazing knack for facts and figures 
on. the statistics and personalities of 
the Republican party; and Jack 
Brickhouse, WGN staff announcer, 
who did one of the top ad lib jobs 
from- the floor' of the convention'.; 

NBC's. Kenneth Bangiiart achieved 
the unexpected by putting" Mrs. 
Janies A. Farley on the network; with, 
"fthe declaration' that "she intended 
voting the Republican ticket in the 
coming election.":.- , ' h: . -.: : ' 
:. : ■ .,Ace . commentalprs handling the 
big show; for NBC included H. V. 
Kaltenborn, Lowell Thomas, Morgan 
Bcatty. Ben Grauer, Richard Hark- 
.ness and Mary Margaret McBride, 
who handled the women's angle. 

CBS coverage of the convention 
was a clambake for Bob Trout With 
most other top CBS. -'men forced into 
the background. Resultant one-man 
snow and a general so- what attitude 
on. the part of CBS men who fig- 
ured that the whole affair was 
scheduled to. be. a very dull walk- 
away forced Columbia Into the cel- 
lar position in spite of the elaborate 
plans made lot covering the con- 
clave," Y v ':-.:>::'• .: ''" :-Y / V v ••'••' 



♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ 

IN NEW YORK CITY . . , 

Nila Mack, CBS director of "Let's Pretend" and other programs, is 're'; ■• : 
ported on the road to recovery after an illness of two months. She's ex- : 
pected back in two weeks. In the absence of Miss Mack, Richard Sanville ' 
has been producing "Pretend." Sanville, incidentally, is on a full sked,,- 
having been assigned to "Wilderness Road," sustaining five-a-week strip, '-, 
andlhe new Vicks "Dangerously Yours". , .Norma Anderson, secretary - ^' * 
Ray Knight, head of the Blue network production division, has resigned 
to- go overseas with a USO entertainment; unit; She's an actress. , . .Be--; 
cause of the repeat show on Tuesday nights at 7, of the Blue net's Satin- . 
day morning sustainer. "Land of the Lost," Cyril Armbruster has giveii n ;l : 
■direction of "the Scahound." afternoon serial, but will continue to .super-' ', 
vise scripts and casting. Direction will be taken over by staffers Bill 
Marshall and Winifred Lenihan. ' Understood that comic strip .rights for - I 
syndication have been sold to King Features, : . :., ; : '■:■, - . . 

Gregory Abbott, voice of Paramount Newsrcel. joined WQXR annoiinc- . 
ing staff Monday (3K. . '.'.'Bans Jacob, WOV across-the-board news commen- 
tator, started at: new. air time Monday . (3.i at 7:15 p.m., having been heard 
for more than two years 15 minutes earlier, , . ."Wake Up. New York,'' 
Peggy Lloyd's early six times . weekly program on WOV, celebrates its first , 
an.ni today (5) with a boost in time from; an hour to 90 minutes. 
- Dick Smart, *'Abie's Irish Rose" announcer, into the Marines July .26. 
with a commission . . .There's a slight coin detour in that Peter Loi re 
"Journey Into Fear"; air package, the sliding scale arrangement actually 
calling for $2,250 for the first 13 weeks, $3,500 for the next 39 and $4,001) 
thereafter, Earl McGill, back from his .vacation, directing the Jack 
Pepper show. « ' ■; ■- ■ :■ ':.-.'-.'-."•. .,■":,-..■' '■V.--'-Y' ;V ' : :-. '■. .'• 

Three-year-old son of Irwin Rose, radio publicity contact for fight pro- 
moter Mike Jacobs, drowned in Morristown, N. J., last week. Youngster 
was grand-nephew' of Jacobs. /. .Geo. Crandall, CBS public relations boss, 
to Somerset T&e^mGScyTtcy^twixw& k's. ieil MaU'el ehtar Clar k, of'-,. 
CBS programing writing department, doing Continuity for new Mildred 
Bailey Wednesday night show, .. .Fayette Krum joined CBS scripting de-- 
paitment on Monday (3). She. had been in retirement oh her farm in 
Pennsylvania. A radio scripter for the past 10 years, rhe was last ideni- 

fie'd with the "Girl Alone" program Virginia Rooks has resigned from 

CBS script division for a prolonged rest. ■ '.:. '. ., ^ ■ Y '; ; -■ 
Lee Sweetland. replacing John Charles Thomas, on the Wcstinghouse show 
for four. Weeks starting July 23. ,. .Ben Marko, Who was contributing to 
the Patsy Kelly show on a free-lance basis, hail been signed as a steady 
scripter for the airer to work with Cy Howard. .. .Fred Robbins now nar-' 
rating training films for Wright Aeronautical Corp.. . . .Maxir.e Keith, who" 
has joined the Caples agency to head up radio and television activities, is 
alo continuing her, WOR-Mntual show in addition. Miss Keith, Incidentally, 
major domoed her initial video presentation last night (Tuesday) over the 
DuMont facilities. • •;., .". •-/'".-":..""•'. ,-'- .•;.- • ".'■-..' 

IN ' CHICAGO '.Y; - ';'; Y ;' ' /. 

Chicago Radio Management club disbanded iU weekly management 
meetings for the summer last week. Luncheons will resume Sept: 6..,. 
Alice Cornell, who does the "Song Collector" show over NBC, has published 
a book of poems. . . .Willard Waterman joined the cast of "Women in 
White" la st week. H e wil l pla v the part of Dr. Wilton. Harry Elders has 
been added to the same show as Dr. Landis. 

Cecil B. DeMille was the .guest '-star on the "Yo'ur America" Union Pacifla 
show last week. . . .Vincent Pelletier, announcer on the '-Carnation Con- 
tented Hour," was operated on at the St. Francis hospital, Evanston, last 
week.. ..King Park, who has received his commission as a second lieuten- 
ant in the Marine Corps, wiil leave for training at Quantico July 22 .... 
Jonathan Snow, former newspaperman, succeeds him as sales promotion 
manager at WBBM-CBS here. Y-Y- : - 

Schutter Candy renewed "Starring Kurt Massey" show last week. Pro- 
gram is aired over the full NBC network Jack Brickhouse played tha 

role of George M. Cohan in "Minstrels of the Masses;" Chicago Theatre or 
the Air show, aired over Mutual last week, . . .Betty Ross. NBC artist, who 
has joined the WAVES, -will be inducted Sept. 1.. ..Top flight NBC execu- 
tives in for the Republican National Convention included Niles Trammel, 
Frank Mullen,: C. L. Menser, Frank Russell and Sidney M. Strotz. . . . Ahh« 
Sterrett has been added to the cast of "Right to Happiness" as Jinny 
Carson.;,,- Y •.;,-'.' i "'.''.' "'■':.''-■' ;.-v'". 

FUltpn Lewis. Jr., Mutual commentator, had to have 10 stitches taken 
after cracking his head on a steel beam during the Republican Convention 
.. .Dr. Roy Shields, musical director for the NBC Central Division, is 
vacationing. .. .Danny O'Neil's wife and neyt»bx>m son flew into Chicago 

last week to see the CBS singer Frank W«bb, KDKA, Pittsburgh, a 

Chicago visitor this week Ed Bailey, NBC Central Division sound effects 

head, to New York for a vacation and to see his wife; a WAC, stationed 
at Ft. Slocum. . . .June Shielman, WTMJ soloist, was awarded a year's 
scholarship by the Milwaukee Journal. Singer competed in the "Hour, of 
Charm" semi-finals. She will continue on the WTMJ staff while in school. 

Lew Goodkind, Hildred Sanders. David Dole and Genevieve Lemper 
comprise the Radio Management Club committee, appointed to work with 
the NAB convention committee, due here in advance of the convention 
next month to make final arrangements for the meeting, ...CBS commen- 
tator John Daly went through the campaigns in North Africa, Sicily and 
Italy without a scratch, but got himself tangled up in one of those banner 
parades on -the floor of the convention and went back to New York with a 
beaut of a shiner. . - • , '. -'•' 

Added to the cast of NBC's "When a Girl Marries" are Staals Cdtsworth 
as Phil Stanley and Tess Sheehan as Nettie. . . .Phil Bowman replaced 
Rpx W.!.nsor_ as director on the NBC "Ma Perkins" show. . . .Katherine An- 
derson joined 'thT ca.si^ s RignTTo~»fi-p"prhaar* last***?*. -> ; -r- ••-<- 

IN HOLTA WOOD '.. '. m - "~ V v ' *" 

Bob Presnell, producer of the Orson Welles stanza for Compton. will 
make another affiliation when the show is closed out July 19. . . .Capt. Joe 
.Tjhompson, former NBC producer on the Coast, is now running the Amer- 
ican Expeditionary Station in New Hebrides: . . .Harry Kerr, one of the 
writers of Lux Radio Theatre, dons his Navy blues Aug. 15 and checks 
in at Tucson with rating of lieutenant, j.g., ... .Mahlon Merrick directing 
28-piece orchestra for C P. MacGregor album. . . .Don Bernard east to con- 
fer with new soap sponsors of "Blondie". .;, . J, Walter Thompson testing 
all manner" of talent as replacement for Bob Crosby, who became a 
Devil Dog ever the weekend with rate of lieutenant. .. .Phil Leslie, script 
aide of Don Quinrt and "Fibber and Molly,", providing the story line and 
doing the final editing of the Charlotte Greenwood show. Ray Singer 
has bowed out and Ray Allen is now dreaming up the gags. . . ."Man Called 
X" was put on wax last week at CBS for Lockheed's inspection. : Harry 
James still in the running, however,, for the aircraft, who takes oyer th<* 
last half hour of the Lux spot for an eight-week summer span ... :Edgar 
Bergen awarded Order of Vasa by King Gustav of Sweden for his contri-, 
bution to the advancement of American-Scandinavian relations ... Jack 
Sayers heading for. New. York, on Galjup survey,, confabs. , . .Ona Muusoit 
now gossiping aboiit film and radio people on KNX,. Y.Dick Gibson vacat- 
ing his talent buying berth- with Ruthrauft & Ryan to take another port- 
folio with the agency in New York. . . .Gordon Hughes. CBS produce!, 
parted with his appendix. ... Anne Brenton, CBS music clearance head on- 
the Coast, will pass a month at the home office. .. .One time announcer, 
Frank Goss, made his captaincy .in- the Air Forces : the hajd Way, comi ng 
.up" in two years from a buck private. . . .Larry Berns ancT Al Levy rolled 
up their sleeves' and are punching away to develop new shows and taleivl 
for CBS. .. .Gwendolyn Shepley Peacher succeeded Francis Farmer Wilder 
as director of Education: foi- CBS Coast network. .. .Edward Keeler left 
Don Lee sales staff to become halt owner of Western Advertising Agency. 



Yi>«?ucs<lay. July .5, 19M 



PfiRFETY 



RADIO 28 



SPONSORS RUSH TO RENEW 



Spots More Eyes Getting Wor&^ 



Trade Seeks Way Out of Dilemma BIGGER NETWORKS 



By WON WALSH 

: 3 >}ej casing resentment is evidenced 
|rno.iig .established ad ' agen.eks and 
the- leading indies ift 'Kt. -V: over 
fiepths --to which spot transcription 
peddlersiare sinking in the matter pi 
■•fcad taste, false claims and question-: 

"■able radio practices. • It's reached a 
pohit-where^lamor is being raised 
jpr the' formation ... of. -.an-- industry. 
4irie' vigilantes commiuee to set 
Msnda.ds .for acceptable methods of 
jijrlanes advertising, '■ •.'■'-' 

Among loudest beefs . are those 
fi'om. manufacturers <and their rep- 
resentatives) of, reputable, vitamin 
Reparations tvn'o bemoan the ; re- 
cent flood of nostrums. into the mar- 
. ket and dubious methods .by w hich, 
sonic of llksei manufacturers launch 
their sales messages via spot tarn- 
.scriptions. ; .:'■- ',.': 

Claims - are being made, it is 
thar^ed. that these concoctions are 
•miraculous curealls wLlh plugs adopt- 
ing an almost constant recourse .to 

. the "scare 'em. to death'' approach 
■oyer the air. Not only do agencies 
j (presenting the reputable concerns 

;> ; l)jeet to the alleged:, practices be- 
cause t h py . h u l't a ti v it am i n m a n u - 
faelurer? but far-seeing execs object 
'r.eranse the ill-advised plugs prom- 
ise to hurt all: radio advertising. 

Other platters drone out day and 
right a dreary 'cacaphony of trick 

. MJimd: effects ranging from gpatis to 
tar-piercing screams, it's charged. 
■j-.hu i-iiinhp) tfirmf )'|!.ui's_._alinched 



without r.hym'e or reason and bear- 
ing no scientific sales approach. It 
•would almost seem, one agency exec 
(.pined, that the sponsors themselves 
never' listen 1o the brand of stuff 
i.eir.g aired under their name aiid; 
at their, expense. A lot of this cer- 
tainly can do the clients no good 
and, in many , cases, i.s doing .them a 
Jot of harrn, with intelligent/ listeri- 
*'<■'•• . ';, '•; : 'Vt! ,- r - / ,••;•:'• 

Another pointed out: that a burp 
.Way be very funny in a '.- wres'il.ing' 
arena but quite another thing when 
. exploded out of a. living room loud- 
speaker during a digestive remedy 
■ »i.d ■'• It's ha.rdto believe, he added, 
that plugs grounded on such poor 
taste can do the sponsors 'any good 
and they, themselves,, w ould be 
bound' to benefit from an -all-around 
cleanup; .: '- 

Pointed out. though, that NAB, one 
'likely channel- for such it .move, 
Potildfi't function very well inasmuch 
I's most indies, airing the objection- 
sole stuff aren't members. Same 
thing, as - far . as, agencies are con- 
cerned, applies to !h* A A A A . Some 
•objectors feel that Federal authori- 
ties, • who recently grilled celebs 
Merit their signed eigaref testimo- 
nials, might also concern themselves 
with certain spot ads along- lines, of 
fair trade practices, false claims, etc. 



CBS to Retain 'Report' 



-Eleci ric Companies' decision to 
drop the "Report to the Nation'' CBS 
session heard Wednesday nights, 
10:30-11 p.m., cues switch, effective 
July 30. of the Hirer into the Sunday 
night, 7-7:30 p.m. spot oh a .sustain- 
ing basis'. Web feels that show will 
acquire a sponsor in short order— in 
fact, several nibbles have- already 
been received. New sponsor would 
.have to have open lime on CBS or 
spot it in the . less desirable rime 
niches now-open since show is. pack- 
aged iby CBS and cannot be shifted 
to another net. 

The utility cooperative sponsorship 
l« seeking another show to go into 
the. Wednesday. 10:30-11 p.in. . sfot. 
Reported that lliev prefer a mus cal 
'show. - ' ;'•'.'■'■': :''V : - •..'•' 



'Blondie s Date 
With Blue Off? 



CBS may keep the "Blondie'' airer 
after , all. if Colgate, which now 
sponsors the session, ■ exercises" its 
option for 1he Sunday' night. 8-8:30 
p.ifi.-' slot being ..vacated by dropping 
01 the. Walter : Pidgeon "Star and 
Story" program by Goodyear Rub- 
ber. Prospective plans w hich, would 
1lrTTF'^prrttT?rl~tiie stanza ■ on-ttre - Brrrr 



ould obviously/fall through if show 
iemai.ned on CBS but sponsor would 
have, to fill the Blue. time. Friday, 
7-7:30. p.m., since order: has already 
been- cleared.. 

Thus, Colgate, which/originally 
was faced with- the possibility of 
.having- to-drop one of its airers to 
make room for "Blondie'' -may have 
an extra show on. its hands. Plans 
for filling this extra time have not 
been worked --out yet but sponsor 
doesn't have much time since. Blue 
contract starts' on July 2}, - 
-. Reported that. Procter & Gamble 
had '.first crack at the Sunday spot 
with the idea of shifting its—Truth 
or Consequences" airer from its 
regular Saturday night; 8:30-9 p.m. 
spot on NBC into the CBS hole, but 
Nilts Trainmell, NBC piexy.. repbrf- 
| edly managed \o block .the inove. 
P&G has often expressed dissatisfac- 
tion with, its NBC spot. 



Safe Cues Drug Co. To 



Commercial copy sensitivities, 
• lUTtiif ly U nder ' scrutiny of t he Feel- 

.nal Communications Commission, 
Tnan resulted in the Block Drug Co. 
dropping.' all its spot advertising on 
ladio. Company,, which manufac- 
tures kidney pills, had been utilizing, 
-spot facilities on about 80, stations 
around the country chiefly for '.early - 
iooniing programs of news and hitir 
billy ishow variety. Sponsor- dropped 

■JfloSt'pi its air advertising as of. June 
30, and will be off the air completely 

by July is. '•':::•; ;■:-::■' ,':• 

FFC intervention and .subsequent 
J/'V estimation, while not forcing: com- 
pany off the . ah ,' nevertheless ; had 
P**ed : . a problem on trcatlneir 1 ot 
iommercial copv, with resultant fie-- 
ci'.ion to suspend i adio i-'ctK ilit* uri.- 
i-il there's further clarification: tit the 
s-'Uiation from. Washington.' . .'.' 

J- -Waller Thompson is the agei.-cy 
t* the account. ' '■: ';•.•-' '".•'.'..'. •-'-;-;'-'.', 



Edith Meiser Is Plenty 
Burned— Says Her Needle 
Gave Watson Air Hypo 

■ Dropping of Edith Meiser as 
scripter of the JWutual-Peti 1 W he 
"Sherlock Holmes'' "airer may result 
i il'i writer suing the A. Conart Doyle 
e.-iate. Miss Meiser claims that" she' 
look- the su"b _ orelTnafe '''Dr. Waispir 
character of Doyle aiul developed it 
to the point where Watson was as 
important to the series as Holmes, 
himself. Since the. estate -derives 
the money from rights to' the char- 
acters of the mystery 'series^they 
w ill be the defendants in the planned 
suit. '-, •'-._'. ,- ' 

If successful M.iss . Meiser's. suit 
would provide;. a precedent foj- de- 
lermini.ng the radio writer's ..equity 
in material adapted for radio and 
developed " by the scripter for .that 
medium; " : ,:' : ; - ;: - :-■ •' •'..-'.' '-'-:" 



• Those inflexible SRO hours in 
nighttime radio, have manifested 
their' value, 'So /Jar. ..as sponsorship 
com- is concerned, by an. unpre- 
cedented situation. ■■•'■ Clients' are no 
longer holding off to .the; eleventh- 
hour- to retain their franchises. On 
the muCh-Rought-afier evening: time, 
but are renewing contracts far in 
advance:'.'-;".""- "v,,;"'.-. '.•'::'•"•.'.".'. '.'-.*•- •''•,. ';.':■ 

Whereas, in The past, " it .was the 
policy of piost nafiohal advertisers to 
withhold- plans for the new season 
until their semi-annual balance, sheet 
assured ihem of excess profits, this 
year the tax-bracket factor, while still 
important, is. relegated to the back- 
ground as : the necessity of. maihtain- 
mg good radio time looms, fim in 
importance. :'•'": ' . 

Ail ; of 'which adds up to the fact 
that, even at the- expiration of the 
fiist- ii.v morihs, the four ma.ior 
webs are destined to. surpass last 
year's record-breaking $160,000,000 in 
gross t-;me sales. 

. The enigma of; bow radio can. con- 
•,;nue ;q. spiral its billings in the face 
of .iampacked skeds that have existed 
for a long time has at least two con- 
crete explanations-^more and more 
spot time sales' are evidenced, w-ith a 
SO'-J increase' .over .last: year already 
noied, plus the continued expansion 
of the networks to embrace more 
and more affiliaies. as outlets for lop 
coin' shows. 

. The fact, that there is still -plenty' 
of network time available outside of 
the charmed 7-1! p.m. bracket is re- 
garded as reflecting -theMremcndous 
pull of . the, desirable spots or else a 



lack of courage on tne part of-FpoTr 
sors in refusing to' develop nighttime 
p'rogrammihg during off-lime, hours, 



Reconversion Of 
Industries Eyed 
By Major Webs 



'Town Meeting fo lingering Death' 



Is That Good? 

WLEW. Ei le. fa , boasts a new 
'fist" tn- radio. .. 

Not content . w ilh making a . 
plas for audience attention vm 
commercial .tingles, the station 
announces as. its gift, to the in- 
dustry a "singing station break." 



Mutual Aims 

. .'■'-, ;...v: ■; . '.'. ■ .^;!-;.-., r . : ,-:. : - ■ 

Cowl at Femmes 



Jane Covvl takes over the . 2:45*3 
p.m. spot on ;WOR-Mutua) -net im 
her own -Moiiday-througli-Fririay 
sustaining', program, .effective;' July 
10 Mo\e if an attempt bv MBS to 
inject a fo ma; to counter the, day- 
time serial stanzas on NBC and CBS. 

Program has been tabbed ".h;st 
Between You and Jane Cow;l,'' 'which' 
will have, a -timely slant on current 
topics af seen through the eye« crl 
the legit actress and aimed princi- 
pally for femme appeal. .- 



Greenwood Fifth, Await 
Subsequent Hooperating 
As Test for Hope Fill-in 

The Charlotte Greenwood summer 
replacement show: lor Bob Hope, 
heard Tuesday nights at 1,0 ^o'clock 



via j\BC. capvureo .\o. .1 spot on. iKtf 



Aetna Insurance Co. ; 
Likes 'War Journal' 

At m» Life Iiistifance Co., Hartford, 
l.;.' auditioned • War Journal."' Blue 
. ounclup by cot) t-spodents c.f the 
i.tt'liM'-ii' -ni*- 5- lor possible spou- 

.ship. '■:';-; ■■'".'• 

. . Staiiii • is cUrroiilly heard, tacb 
S .sul:.\. in iii'C VJ-12M p.m. slot •on- 
iric wtb. . .'.. * 



fales depart ments of major web 
Tast.Aveek began. making major pitch- 
es foi business from « ar- industries, 
expected- to reconvert :to peacetime 
goods: mamifaclnring shortly. Many 
of these war- implement makers were 
important radio ..advertisers pre-w'ar. 
but have been oil ' the air since the 
start, or hostilities, w'hert.-' thejj. be- 
gan working for Uncle Sain. 
,, PI aro s ha v e al i-ead'y been bl uepr i n t- 
k> for seven:) of these inanufactur- 
ers to return to the making of ..con- 
sumer, goods by the fall; and the web; 
sales execs are keeping more than 
a:w ealber-eye on- t he sil nation. Net- 
\vork .men .are adyisirjg agencies for 
these accounts that they will be 
weleomed back with open arms, 
many of them haying been -bankroll-. 
w" of 'nt-tt, ork: '.-ftcrw? f«M7>-'.-,yeb irr* 
j aiicy. .' '.„-.-.;• ".v •':■:;„- ;'.--.' ; 

Expected ;<< piofif ptost ift the, 
imrnetij'gte lu'.nve' by , this, , si.tual ion 
are . the ' Blue and Mutual netw orks, 
which have /plenty of time to sell 
•to these important' advertisers,; CBS 
and NBC, hov. ev'er. are also in there 
seeking some of the business to be 
garnered ., for their, webs and -af- .j bnd. half-hour) 
! filiated segments, such , as the Pacific 
coast and Rocky Mountain portions 
of. their nets;- . ':- :.-'.,,. 

'F. igidaire 'General . Motors siib- 
sid I .is. understood to be currently 
sti(rpping ; for a: coast-lo-coa'st ,.sh"o\v 
;il an important nighttime spot,; as 
are. the; .Chrysler: Corp, ror, several 
of t.t.s subs'dJU't' and nem.ingtqH- 
Ran.o,.typew'i )lt; mt.-mifaclur'f ) - 

There i* ?n a > of .uptimism aniong 
the :top, Avai-fhne.; manhfaetiu'ors that 
the v. ar will j>c < \er shortly., and 
'hty will again loin- iq the inakiiig. 
of'. ' electric .ri of yes. typewriters, 
<.! ,';.')•. Z< nith Radio 
qe's-io'if s milking' radios, 
o !•••' large-scale 



.'. Refining reports in, the trade that 
"he had . pif viously put himself on 
itroid that pe v. ould withdraw as a 
Town Hal) trustee if "America'* 
Town Meeting' ever became, :spon- 
fcoied,' No 'nan Thomas 1 old "Va- 
riety'' .(bis week that while he was, 
still opposed in principle to sii' h a 
'"<vt >ic vti i tSielc.'S he constdt leti it 
wiser thai?" a "slow and . lingering 
death" for the program. > 

Conouions laid down in the cdn- 
jiaet lor Readers Digest sponsor- 
ship of the Thursday night Blue net- 
work Jorum, Tnomas asserted, are 
sucr as to satisfy mm- that. there « iH . 
be. ho eilitorial .interference or exer- 
t'sinj' of control and no individual 
moneffci'v benefits w ill accrue to the - 
Town Hall personnel. The mo- 
trieht. there's the slightest, deviation 
from tbt terms e.>t the contract 
'Thomas said the reason he agreed 
to go along was because of the ex- 
acting te-rms: of the pact i "there'll be, 
plenty -of seiuawlcing'frbm this <:or-' 
ner, for I » on 't tolerate it, 1 .: ' 
•' The networks:! oeing the powers 
thai' they are, Thomas pointed outj it , 
was simply a case of choosing trie 
lts.ser , o! two- evils — experimenting 
under' carefully guarded comnteicial : 
auspices or. being,- made a football 
ami being .kicked around,, . "I'm, ne.t 
so ' une-omprOmising as 1 to sit l.i'ck 
Bfie?;. invite a slowi. lingering death,"-. ' 
he asserted. ;•. ... 

Thomas sees justification fbt'-siic'h 
speinseirs-hip being rendered sttsipect 
i"I vr eeeii a critic, 61 Reader s Di- 
gest ipvhell ma.uv times in the past' ) ( 
but he believes .'uc'i an arrangeme i t 
ran wo. k cjot ' satisfactorily. With 

lf.i.sc v, •-»». l'^ht) ihi; map n»; . Fp'S'-f-t 



Hooper listings for the period coyer- 
ing June 15-21 with a 16 rating. The 
"Fibber McGee and Molly'' show,' 
now taking a hiatds, w-as out in front 
for, the period iwith a 24.8 Hooperat- 
iiig. . Second'; with 17.7, was the Joan 
Dav is-Jack Haley: Sealtest show. 

The No. 5 spot for -Miss Green- 
wood, a, newcomer . to radio, is .ob- 
viously influenced by the Tuesday 
night listening habit of -dial-twisters, 
tiipfiig in; for the Hope: stanza. Sub- 
scquent ratirigs. 'it's felt, will give 
a niore .'-realistic pictiire ..'of the come- 
dienne's ability to hold the .10-10:30 
afTditnce. , .; - ,-i ' '.i . 

Meanwhile, attention is being fo- 
cused' on the rating i still to .be re-, 
leasedt that the "Words aT War" re; 
placement for the "Fibber" show; will 
manage to ..roll up. .in view; of the 
drastic switch in fofmat from come-, 
dy to serious, war-tempoeri program- 
ming. It's felt that an analysis' of 
■the- rating should bring forth sf'me 
interesting dala: < I ; does the. public, 
crave such serious programming: <2i -I sp< 
ju.-l how large-' a segment' of .the -re- 
ord-pulling "Fibber" audience can 
be switched- to -the new. bracket e»l 
entertainment: (.'i> ; is there" such a 
tiling as a "habit'' audience, one that 
alter week-in, week-out adherence, 
to a. dial spot can' jje relied' upon to 
remain- glued to the same station. 

Top 15 ratings for the June 15-21 
pc < ,tid follows • '"• --■'■—■■ .. . 
- "Fibber -McGee-' -ft ''Molly.*- Joan 
Davis and Jack i ;HMey.;.I-ux Radio 
Theatre.;. Screen G uiid Players. C'nar.- 
lotte.G retnwoori; "Mi-.;, bistricf Alt Or- 
ney," Frank . Morgan-Fahnie':. Brice; 
Bing Crosby. "Take. It or Leave It." 
Walter Winchell.' "Aidrich Family'."' 
Kay Ky-er •8)>t halt-houri.. Eddie 
Cantor. Hilde-garde. Kay Kyseir, > see- 



he has nc' paiieTiee. "especially when 
it's tossed. around as carelessly as has 
..Vice-Pi esiueni Wallace." 

Sponsorsiiip . coin will accrue to. 
Town Hal! .treasury,, with moderator 
George V. Denny continuing w ith his 
present $20,000 s year Mary; acee/r.d- 
ing tt'.Tho ncs. ; 

. A t the . same time. 'Thomas R; Car- 
skaidon i cJmirrijSn- of the. radio cuhi- 
miitee of'the American Civil Uotr- 
ties Union, replying to- a tjuory s»s: to 
the coMiTihtet s position . aritnt the. 
Reader's .Digest sponsorship of 
"Meeting." re-itera.ie-d the union's 
stand th;,t "'cornmcicial sponsorship, 
■ •• innopSf ore-ate- danger to. free - 
tf6iar i>t. 1hotig.it and 'expression on 
Jorum ;-:.-ei r.iU' c. o^r ilssion pro- ' 
gri:")f i'-M, shotfief be avoided. *.- 

"We . deplore- tne 1. ' ., ' Carskaoon 
aeie eo, "ihix seime networks, because, 
of wai -sv.c.lh n e:< "\, nds for ce.rh- 
me.'c.a) l,me. are now putting pies- 
sure' or. well-fstaolisheid' forum and . 
public e isenssion: programs to accept . 

•rise.) ship.' We belie ve that, broad- . 
casters >vm> oo this are going against 
fries,, < v. r long-term interest, as well 
«»"Vfj».sr>«.t. the public interest Lis- 
teners « jli resent . such moves and 
the finaf result. may be a demaiid for 
more government .control oyer pro- 
grams— v, hich is se>mething that all- 
e.J iif interested in freedom : ol the'' 
raoi.o v.. iSi if, .to iiVOtfl-V..; 



Fishbein Nixes Scripts 
On Socialized Medicine 
For 'Doctor Fights' Show 



Buildup Fund Cues Delay 
On Hilliard-Nelson Show 



* p.e'thce fif ' Dj-j Morris Fisnbein, 
eeiiioj , 't'f - . tmi" Au;eric:in Medical' 
!"As>)f.' Jeitiini!),' as: consuilaftt on the 
i sclienle y-CBS "Tne - Doctor Fights" 
kih.h\)-}i/t iisiilted in the barring -«.f- 
t >.},y srTipis, on socialized medicine 
i from tniit. stanza. At recent meeting: 
Desii-e to .pHe up a fund .-for 'ex-'! >. h>'pl rn "latizing the medical ,-e.t- 
ploiiation of fh'e Oz/»e - Neisoii-Har- i >t> «t . t '.e Ki.iscr piunts was mulJtd 
ii«:tt. n'!'l;ai'd'.'.'io,v is responsible fen '! **>< iuf.ne p.-ocuiction. Suggestion 
post Rpniii^ premise fro:n 0< {. I to !:*•*' ez-ough to set Fishboin, jp-Jifari.t 
Of,, h ■ ;;■; -' ,".'..- '■ 

Ai. ci h.-.d * bfcen-. pencilled.' ^ in ' 
1 li:'-' the*" f-i.riiM date but since! siiow | v -. 
runs i-.. t; I'estricted. budget tlie o/il-y . 
•o ay to fiiid 
)n olii'ily.' , ;.f 



U es, K.oios 
Corp., \> hicb 
is- e.vpccte o 
m« 'lufi-otui e 

kill' 11 U. . Im 

oiti p.- o-ra.;ij 



!',i;:ring-;.id 
s':o jpui;' f<i) a i it- 
i. 1. I i-t budget. 



money for , additional 
,• by carrying bier the 
S he i T ifatrt foimat fo 
ext,a week. Stive T it.-itre cost 
s ;.000 >, - .'.e/ek •vhije tbe Xeho.i 



( p|.ejiye.ni . of .social ized medicine, off 
>. t, Jengthv tmbltfe'i'eel rtiatrtbe 
iclv .i.'Cnr, int. .end of ary such, 
pis Je.i i t ; : jie.', . 
I'ishoe.in v.ii.s'-s.o,' Aorked up about 
:e i:i--.i't;.e!''.!ria,t ne^sein out a tj-e.iini,. 



¥ i 



,Hi! . ■( M; i /. costs SO -SOO, ti'uis p. ei- { .,o;ic ie 
> t {. « >i ;,o< itiontil Vi.*)00 tor o.jly. .<fi iU.(i ' 
•"!'.-'..*.!.. .'-''- ' ' ■:,'■'■' ' " .'.''". ' 



to !■ -ose cOi'inecteo .ii'lMhe hm-.ou 
t .-.( -i strip's sKosttng ooctiirs v.oik og 
tugej or . ■ . iv , t g tne 'Vied m:u/> 



tcel 

o,i rto S lustrountlv he 
••«•. / < -,.o orft such ' >.hbv,> 
.r,i fif ' -I nroii.-prn. 



24 



TELEVISION— RADIO 



Wednesday, Juljr 5, 1944 



Annenbergs Tele Station Bid Linked 
To Hot Competish of Philly Papers 



Philadelphia, July 4. ♦ 
Reports arr current here that 
Walter Annenberg, publisher of the 
Philadelphia Inquirer, has applied to 
the Federal Communications Com- 
mission for a permit to erect, a tele- 
vision station on ground adjacent to 
the Inquirer building. / •. 

Annenberg, who inherited the In- 
quirer from his father, the late M. % 
(Moe) Annenberg, has repeated- 
ly denied reports that he was inter- 
ested in the purchase of radio sta- 
tions. He recently -purchased prop- 
erty adjacent to the newspaper's 
building which was once owned by 
the Baldwin Locomotive Works. ' 

At the time of purchase he an- 
nounced it was for ''post-war ex- 
pansion." A video outlet would fit 
into that category. >.- •'':,,••''-. "'• . 

The Inquirer has been trying to 
attain the lead in circulation in 
Philly, now held by the Bulletin. 
The latter paper, owned by Robert 
McLean, prexy of the Associated 
Press, recently purchased WPEN. a 
deal which is now awaiting sanction 
from the FCC. 



Philadelphia. — Jack O'Reilly, yet 
KYW sports spieler, left last week 
to join staff of WNEW, New York, 
He will also assist NBC's BUI Stern 
on special assignments. 



Delay in Fitting Out 
DuMont Studios Defers 
Preem of Tele Operetta 

'The Boys From Boise," original 
operetta; two hours Jong, skedded for 
tele presentation over WABD-Du- 
Mont,- N. Y., this, month, has been 
postponed until September because 
of delay in completing new studios 
under construction at DuMont's 
Ma d i s o n avenue headquarters. 
Planned to have the Ray Nelson mu- 
sical production as feature of the 
studio launching in the fall. 

Show in the meantime has lined 
up Esquire mag as sponsor and Al- 
fred R, Pastel, publication's adver- 
tising director, is planning special 
promotion in connection with the 
tele Pi'eem. Rehearsals will continue 
tl. -oughout summer. "Boys" will use 
a 13-piece orch under baton of Sam 
iM^doft, studio pianist and . composer 
of operetta score. 



Philadelphia— J. Richard Jessen, 
formerly of WWSW and KQV, Pitts- 
burgh, has joined the announcing 
staff of WPEN. 



GEE, FELLAS, 

IT WAS NEWS TO ME, TOO... 




I'm a cow. Obvious. But I'm also cover girl on One 
of the goshdarndest farm stories you ever read. It's 
just been put out by WOR, and the folks up there 
thought it might be nice if I told you something 
ahout it. . 

It says, for instance, that the 7-state area WOR 
covers, has 896,000 farming people who earned half 
a billion dollars in 1943. That's lift tr.ore than they 
earned in 1942! . ' - *-..'' ■'' ■' 

Well, fellas, that was news to me, too. But, listen. 
— you'd belter see the whole story. It's. called "News 
Of The Farm"; which, by the way, is the name of 
the WOR farm show conducted by farm-wise Joe 
Bier. Popular? According to the Department of 
Agriculture, 85?< of all Eastern farmers listctt to 
. it daily. 

I'm only a cow. Biit I know farm folks buy every- 
thing. And WOR sells 'em lots of everything. 

Write for your copy of "Mews Of The Farm" to- 
■ day. It's worth havinY 



Television Review 



Th* address is 



WOR 



1440 Brotuhvay, 
New York 18 



"THE WOMAN WHO WAS AC- 
QUITTED" 

With Steve Roberts, Mason Andrews, 
Josephine Van Vlict, Jack Bittner, 
Ronald Alexander and Donald 
Kuyes 

Producer: Irwin Shayne 
Staged by Sanford Meisner and Tony 
Ferraira 

30 Mins., Sunday (2), 9-9:3* p.m. 
Sustaining 

WABD-DuMont, New York 

Psychological exploration into the 
guilt of an acquitted murderess pro- 
vided a satisfactory vehicle for one 
of the best live shows televised via 
DuMont. Session produced by Tele- 
vision Workshop presented a profes- 
sional cast under skilled direction 
and demonstrated what such a com- 
bination means to the video medium. 
Camera work, although still far be- 
hind film techniques,i,was head and 
shoulders above anything previously 
shown by the studio's technicians.' 
Resolves were practically instanta- 
neous and closeups were dollied with 
fiinesse as compared with. earlier at- 
tempts where a certain amount of 
jerk mess could always be depended 
upon. ■V'-. 

Only weakness in the whole stanza 
was the script itself and a few minor 
difficulties with lighting and fo- 
cussing. The story of an acquitted 
murderess who confesses her crime 
while in a cataleptic trance Is scien- 
tifically unsound but the cast made it- 
appear believable and that's what, 
pays off from an entertainmentj 
viewpoint. Script also provided little 
opportunity for action . and motion 
but this may have been helpful 
rather than harmful since viewer's 
attention was riveted to a limited 
area, thereby . heightening the psy- 
chological reaction to such a cold- 
blooded deed as the strangling, of a 
baby. Latter theme and its enact- 
ment would undoubtedly cause regu- 
lar AM broadcasters many a grey 
hair with their tabus on realistic ef- 
fects. Tele with its widened oppor- 
tunity for gruesomeness will prob- 
ably prove a headache for the blue- 
pencil boys. 

All in all, the session last Sunday 
night (2) was a step in the right di- 
rection. Ttiro. 



FIRST ALL-SERVICE 
— VIDEO SHOW IN-CHI 

• .Chicago, July . 4. 

All-Navy-personnel War Bond 
Television show to be aired here to 
day (4) over WBKB will mark the 
first time that a video show has been 
exclusively produced, written, and 
acred in by members of the armed 
forces. :.' \: : 

Included in the show will be At 
vino Rey, now a Navy radio trainee 
at Wright Junior College, Lt. Orrin 
Tucker and his Navy orchestra. 
Wave Lt, Frances Rich, daughter of 
Irene Rich, and Commander Bill 
Ed*y, former head of WBKB. 

Sailors have built special sets for 
the show, including one that's a dead 
ringer for the bridge of a destroyer 
—wheel, pelorus, engine telegraph 
and all. s 



Tele 'University of Air' 
Has Preem Tonight (5) 

Educational possibilities of tele 
will be explored via "Television Uni- 
versity of the Air" produced by 
Charles M. Storm Co. First session 
in the series will be given tonight 
(5) over WABD-DuMont, N. Y., and 
will feature half-hour lecture on 
natural history by Jay T. Fox, ex- 
plorer, naturalist and potographer. 

Session will present natural his- 
tory specimens augmented by slides 
in attempt to develop workmanlike 
method of combining showmanship 
and education. 



Barry's 'Matinee Daily' 
In Video Preem Thurs. (6) 

. •> Schenectady, July 4. 

William E. (Bill) Barry, vet legit 
actor and playwright, has penned a 
teleplay, "Matinee Daily," which will 
be aired by WRGB Thursday (6). 
"Daily" is a backstage story in one 
act and five scenes and will be given 
by an all-GE cast directed by Barry 
and Hal Stanton. 

■■ Barry isvnow engaged in war work 
%t GE's Schenectady plant. ' 

Collins DuMont Consultant 

Ted Collins last week was ap- 
pointed program consultant Of, the 
DuMont Television station, WARD, 
N. Y. He's been collecting material 
suitable for tele for some time and 
it will be available to advertisers 
using WABD. .'' - 

Collins is now at his place at 
Lake Placid, N. Y.. working on for- 
mats for prospective video presenta- 
tions. 



•Pomes' Sell Paint 

Those poetic excu/sibns of 
Allan Reed, the "Falstaff" of the 
Fred Allen program, paid oft big 
dividends last week. 

Reed pocketed $1,000 through 
the Warwick & Legler agency 
for a one-minute rhapsodic 10- 
line verse to be used as a spot 
announcement for. Coroci an 
odorless paint. 



Threat Seen To 
Eastern Unguals 

Future status of foreign-language 
broadcasts on at least two independ- 
ent stations in the N. Y. metropoli- 
tan area, appears to be in doubt. 
Hence the question has been raised 
whether any change in. policy keyed 
to stronger sales return would be 
wise at a time when the need: for 
Unguals to help foster better under- 
standing among nationalities is felt 
to be more acute than ever, 

The future of Italian language 
broadcasts emanating from . WOV, 
N. Y., is Involved in the scheduled 
hearing tomorrow (6) at Washington 
before the Federal Communications 
Commission on the sale of the indie 
station by Arde Bulova to the Mes- 
ter Bros., owners of the Balbo Oil Co., 
for $300,000. Richard O'Dea, minor- 
ity stockholder in the station, is 
challenging the transaction, claiming 
he held a first option to buy the sta- 
tion from Bulova: WOV in the past 
has done a particularly noteworthy 
job With its uninterrupted program- 
ming sked daily from 8 a.m. to 6 
p.m., achieving prominence, includ- 
ing a "Variety" ; showmanagement 
plaque, for helping to foster closer 
ties between N. Y. Italians and anti- 
Fascist elements within Italy, Possi- 
bility is seen, however, of a switch 
in the station's lingual policy under 
the Mester Bros, helm. 

Purchase by the Cowles Bros, of 
WHOM, Jersey City, is also expected 
t o affect foreign languag e broadcast- 
ing in the metropolitan area, wiftT 
the new owners, currently awaiting 
FCC approya.l, seen dropping such 
programs. 



Corwin Series in 21-Wk. 
Layoff After Sept. 5; 
Returns to New Spot 

Norman Corwin will return to 
CBS with his air dramas after a 21- 
week vacation which begins after 
the Sept. 5 session. Net will have to 
find another, spot for him when he 
returns since the Wrigley "America 
in the Air" show takes over the 
Tuesday night 10-10:30 p.m. slot, 

Corwin's contract with CBS pro- 
vides that the vacation doesn't re- 
strict his activities while off the air 
except to forbid appearances on an- 
other network. ' 



NBC's DA' Tabus 
Becoming a Habit 

■ "Mr. District Attorney," Bristol- 
Myers NBC airer ran into censor- 
ship difficulties with net officials 
again last week. "The Case of the 
Curious Crystal Gazer" was skedded 
for production on the stanza but 
web toppers refused to allow it to go 
on the air. Net objected to a tor- . 
ture sequence claiming that even 
the Nazis wouldn't be so brutal. 
Jerry Devirie, producer of "D.A.," 
stuck to his guns and situation re- 
mained strained with both sides re - 
fusing to alter their stand right up 
to the morning of the broadcast. 

Devine, seeing that the net 
wouldn't give in, went to them and 
confessed that the stanza, was a re- 
peat of a script done on the same 
show two years ago which he 
thought was now timely and there- 
fore ripe for reprise. A check of 
the files proved this to be true: and 
net had to allow show to go on the 
air since it had been cleared previ- 
ously. -■ ■".:"-' ■■- 

Incident Was another in a rela- 
tionship that has been stormy since 
airer initiated anti-fascist themes in 
place of a straight whodunit format. 

GAILMORE SPONSORED 
ACROSS THE BOARD 

William S. Gailmore, news analyst 
heard Sundays over WHN, N. Y., in, 
a 15-minute program, has been parted 
by the Electronic Corp. of America 
for a 15-minutes cross-the-board pro- 
gram (9-9:15 p.m.) over the same 
station. v ; 

Move pits Gailmore against Ga- 
briel Heater heard at the same time 
over WOR-Mutual. New program 
bowed in Monday (3), with Gail- 
more, because of the six-day sked, 
resigning his post as writer-editor on 
the broadcast desk at the N. Y. Daily/ 
News. He held t h e latter post for 
the past two and a half years. 

Electronic Corp. recently imitiala 
the uncensored sponsorship an- 
nouncement when it took over 
Johannes Steel news session on 
WMCA, N. Y. : 



Pittsburgh, — Dave Tyson, chief 
announcer at WWSW; shoved off 
over weekend for Atlantic City on a 
leave of absence for remainder of 
summer to take over a seashore post 
he's held now for last 15 summers. 
It's directing children's activities at 
Steel Pier. \ , 



Snerlallifnjc In . 
The Eutertalnment Field 

Carl Oppenheimer, C.P.A. 

20 Years Experience 

, BuMinesa and .Tax Consultant 
6SS1 HOLLYWOOD . BLVD. 
Hollywood 28, Calif. 




THE POWER OF 3... 

Radio-wise buyers get all three— coverage, programs 
and fate— when they pick WDRC for spot announcement 
schedules: Connect in Connecticut by using WDRC! 




BASIC CBS 
Connecticut'* 



BnMKkattar 



Wednesday, July 5, 1944 



P^RIETY 



RADIO 



25 



Nix Off-Post Jobs 
For Coast AFRS 



: ' "... ; Hollywood, July 4. .. 

Members of the Armed Forces Ra- 
dio Service who have been doing 
off-the-post jobs of writing and pro- 
ducing for pay, are curbed by a new 
ruling. Aside from exceptional cases, 
this privilege will be denied by 
Lieut.-Col; Thomas Lewis, cbmrnand- 
ing officer here. Ruling affects only 
members of AFRS, and does not in- 
clude other Army posts. 

Banned under the new rule are 
program series, contractual obliga- 
tions or work before civilian audi- 
ences, without specific approval by 
the commanding officer of the post. 



Top Execs in Cowles 
Setup Shifted; Hoffman 
Into Des Moines H. 0. 

Chicago, July 4. 
Sweeping realignment of all ex- 
ecutives in the rapidly expanding 
Iowa Broadcasting Co. setup was 
seen here last week when five of 
the regional. network's top men were 
reassigned to new posts pending the 
— final-ECC-approval. 0 f the_network's 
purchase of WHOM, Jersey City, and 
WCOP, Boston. Purchase of WOL, 
Washington, D. C, is expected to be 
completed sometime in the next two 
weeks to add still another station to 
the Cowles chain. 

. Switches include Phil Hoffman, 
former general, manager of WNAX, 
Yankton. S. Dakota, moved to the 
horrte office at Des Moines as ex- 
ecutive assistant to Craig Lawrence, 
general manager of the network. Don 
E. Inman, former manager of the 
Waterloo studios »f WMT, moves 
into the top slot at WNAX, Von 
Linder replacing Inman as manager 
" at WMT; Art Smith, former program 
manager at WNAX, will go to Sioux 
City as; station manager, and Gene 
Loftier, announcer and production 
man at KRNT, Des Moines, will take : 
over at WNAX. as program manager. 
tte'TTharfgesTrlso-skeTldtdr— - — — -r 



WINS, N. X, Lining Up 
fro Football Sponsor 

Negotiations are hearing conclu- 
sion for sponsorship of the Brooklyn 
Tigers (nee Dodgers) professional 
football games on WINS, N. Y., dur- 
ing the coming season. ■ 

Same station is currently broad- 
casting Giants and Yanks baseball 
games with Don Dunphy and Bill 
Slater at the mike. Same duo are 
expected to handle descriptions of 
Brooklyn grid games. * ; /'■.'•:'• 



SEC Lists David Sarnoff's 
RCA Salaries at $100,720 

Philadelphia,' July 4. \ 
David Sarnoff, president of RCA, 
received $100,720 during the past fis- 
cal year in salaries from the com- 
pany, according to RCA's reort to the 
Securities Exchange Commission 
here last week. ■ 

George T. Throckmorton, a vice- 
president and director, who resigned 
last year reveived $72,240. James H. 
Harbord, chairman of the board, drew 
$60,760. Latter is also a director of 
NBC, RCA Communciations and RCA 
Institutes, Inc. 



RIVAL BEER OUTFIT 
SNARES NEBLETT SHOW 

Chicago. July 4. 

Odd angle will be presented this 
month when Johnny Neblett's "So 
the Story Goes" changes sponsors 
On July 14, show, which is heard 
three times weekly over WBBM, 
completes two years under' the soon" 
sorship of the Prima Brewing Co 
and on July 17 begins a new contract 
for the Edelweiss Brewing Co.. rival 
concern; . 

Situation came about when word 
leaked Out that show might become 
available. Spirited bidding for the 
stint, which enjoys a nice local rat- 
ing, resulted' in Edelweiss offering 
more coin and snaring the program 
New contract is for 52 weeks and 
went through I. J. Wagner of the 
local Olian Advertising Co. office. 
Show will continue to be heard over 
WBBM, Monday, Wednesday and 
Friday, 10:15-10:30 p.m. CWT. : : 



Blue, Don Lee Vie 
For Choice H wood 
Studio Locations 

Hollywood, July 4. 

Blue network and Don Lee chain 
are fighting it out for choice sites 
near Hollywood and Vine upon 
which to erect new studios. Don Gil- 
man, recently returned from New 
York with authority to strike a deal, 
has first call on four locations, block- 
ing off Don Lee, which hadn't been 
looking around until , a few weeks 
ago, when its Melrose avenue plant 
was sold by Consolidated Labora- 
tories to RKO.V I ■ ; ■ 

Blue's plans call for 13-story office 
building for allied crafts, which will 
front on the property and to be 
flanked by facilities to handle the 
separate operations of standard ra- 
dio, frequency modulation and tele- 
vision. Don Lee's blueprint calls for 
the three operations and a building 
large enough to house the personnel. 
Realty deals are expected to be 
closed within two months, but con- 
struction will have to wait until crit- 
ical materials are released. 



Hurly Burly of Station Breaks, Spots 
Tossed to NAB by Chi Agency Execs 



Chicago, July 4. 

Long time conrmlaint among local 
advertising agencies regarding the 
lack of standardization on lengths of 
station breaks and one-minute an- 
nouncements, by practically every 
station in the country, was brought 
to a head here recently when the 
Chicago Radio . Management Cliib 
urged that the NAB take up the 
matter at the August convention in 
an effort to clarify the situation as to 
whether stations are selling time or 
words. ; . : '\ " 'v. : 

Agencies claim the lack of uni- 
formity not only makes more work 
but adds expense. For example, in 
setting up a spot sales campaign on 
50 stations, 20 of them will allow 50 
words on a live station break an- 
nouncement while the balance have 
rules that limit them to 25 or 30 
words. This means agencies have 
their choice of writing several sets 
of copy for all the stations; using the 



minimum requirements on all sta- 
tions, thereby losing several seconds 
of time they pay for, or leaving off 
some stations they would like to use 
because their sales story cannot in- 
telligently be told in 25 to 30 words. 

Matter of using transcriptions on 
station breaks is even more, of a 
headache, agency execs say. Again 
they must time their cutting to the 
minimum allowance of 10 to 15 sec- 
onds and pay for dead air or cut 
more than one master record, which 
is too expensive an undertaking. 
Chi agency radio driectors also seek 
standardization on wordage consti- 
tuting a one-minute announcement, 
variance : of which is also causing 
them annoyance. Some stations ac- 
cept as high as 135 words, while 
others have a 100-word limit. This, 
too, means the preparation of several 
sets of copy. One agency reported 
the recent use of one-minute tran- 
scriptions timed at 55 seconds which 
many stations refused to run, claim- 
ing that they had too many words. . 



I 



Bill Stoess Quits Crosley 
For Trans-American Post 

Cincinnati, "July 4. 

Dean of the Crosley staff, with a 
service stretch of 21 years as violin- 
ist and director, Bill Stoess resigned 
last week to join Trans-American in 
New. York in ■ mid-July on music 
production.- ■ i . . ■ • 

■', Stdess .was among, the- first to be 
put on full time when Powel Cros- 
ley. Jr., bowed into radio as n station 
operator. When enough musicians 
were added' to make a sizable combo, 
Stoess tobk over a.s conductor and 
held that title until 1937, building up 
the largest music staff of any. indie 
station. In late years he has directed 
staff orchs. ■ ' 

In going to Trans-American. Stoess 
rejoins John CJiark. '.president, and 
Don Becker, who also are of the 
WLW alumni. - - v " v 



in Top Slot 



Cincinnati; July 4 
Gilbert W.. .Kingsbury took over 
Friday (30> as editor-in-chief of' the 
. WLW newsroom, ' of which he had 
been assistant editor-in-chief since 



been assistant editor- in 
November, 1942. , , ■ ' ;■ ... .. 

He succeeds William Dowdcll, who 
held the top slot for three years an 
■ resigned. Both '.of them not nit 
radio news from the Cincy Post. 



We're still meeting our listeners 



in person 



• • • 



Our WJZ "Victory Troop" has just made 
its 250th personal appearance 
250 separate /ace-to-face meetings between WJZ and 
more than three million soldiers, sailors 
and other service people, 




il 





war plant workers and bond 
buyers . . . The WJZ "Victory Troop" 
traveled 67,000 miles through New York, New Jersey* 
Connecticut, Rhode Island arid Maryland . . . the normal coverage 
area of WJZ . . . Three million more people now know WJZ personally. They 
now have a new affection for the station which goes out of its way to bring them 
enjoyment . . . Jn addition to these, are the eight million in Greater New York, 

Westchester, and Connecticut for whom WJZ 




has taken on a new 
personality sinec its recent trans- 
mitter move now brings new strength and clarity 

to its signal in their homes . . . It's time you 
made a new estimate of the new WJZ . . . These 
new friends of WJZ can be your friends! 






m 



;:.<■• 

m 1 



m& 



mm 

am 

:: *w 



YOUR STRONGEST VOICE IN THE WORLD'S RICHEST mMkBT 

KEY STATION OF THE BlUE NETWORK ★ 770 ON YOUR DIAL 



26 



V&RtETY 



Wednesday. July J>, 1941 



TELEVISION 



and NBC 



'AC all the post -war dcvelopun'nt's 
.U; promised 'by progress in t he art 
and science of radio, Tia t v ish»> pre- 
aent's' 'the greatest challenge and the ; 
greatest opportunity . 

It is a challenge which can be*met 
only by the co-operation of Covcrn- 
inent, broadcasters, and the radio 
manufacturing industry . , ; ':' 

War interrupted development of 
television as a conuiiertial service. 
Of necessity, men and 'materials were 
diverted to the w at effort and must 
continue to he so diverted until vic- 
tory has beeti achieved, 

Belter Sewice to Public 

.The p olicy of the National Broad- 



casting Company always has been, and 
will continue to be, to foster and en- 
courage any developments in. the broad- 
casting field w hich promise better sen - 
ivit t& tlie public. 

In respect to television, it is the 
policy of NBC to contribute to tlie 
utmost tow ard* the mrl'u-st possible de- 
velopnwiit of television as a national 
»erv ice and industry . 

A deep and Gem foundation 'for the 
ultimate television achievement al- 
ready has been laid. For the past 13 
years the Rational Broadcasting Com- 
pany has actively pioneered in the de- 
velopment of television service. 

Television Since 1931 

: \; NBC was 'granted- the first commer- 
cial television Ik*ens9_issued by the 
FCC,' and began commercial opera- 
tions on t he d ay the .license 'was gran ted, 
using # the New York Empire Slate 
Building ^transmitter 'which NBC had 
been operating experimentally since 

Curren t ly we are main lahung'a litu* 



ited schedule of weekly television 
broadcasting, including films, outside 
pick-ups of sports eyeiitSj anil telecasts 
from our recently reconditioned live 
tideti t television studio in Radio. Cfty , 
New York. Our program schedule w ill 
he cKpandcd as rapidly as war eondi-r 
tions permit.;- - , '•'•',-■. ';;:>>; 

NBC Sound Broadcasting 
to be Oontifiiied ' ■ 

Because of its extensive coverage 
and accepted type of highly de vel< »pe'< I 
program serv ice, tliere isito foreseeable 
period when sound broadcasting w ill 
, become unnecessary. NBC -will '.con- 
tinue to maintain its sound broadcast- 
ing services at tlie highest peak of 
technical entcrtainrnent and educa- 
tional excellence. 

Radio now is' virtually .an around- 
the-clock service. 1:1 ven when. television 
becomes universally available, there 
will be times when the radio audience 
w ill be predominantly listeners rather 
- titan viewer:-.. ' 

New Dimension for Radio 

Television is the capstone of the 
radio structure. It adds a new' dime nS 
siou to radio. So you can logically cv- 
pect NBC, as Americ a's Number One 
Network, to bring you the finest tele- 
vision programs just as you look to 
NBC today for the finest in sound radio. 

NBC is committed to a policy of 
close co-operation with the 'Govern- 
jneii t and other members of t he indiist ry 
in the efforts Insecure the best practical 
staiidardsof operation for a commercial 
tele v ision broadcasting system. 

■■In developing a basis for an eventual 
tele vision net work, the N a 1 ioual 
Broadcas t ing Com pan y W i 1 1 co-opera le 
in every way with the owners and oper- 
ators of the stations affiliated with its 
' networks '; ■■:;',• K ;?i-'.y 



NSC Prepares for Expansion 

. In preparation for the expected en- 
p a us' ion of tele vision serv ices m tine 
post-War period, N BC w ill continue to 
tap new 'sources of program material 
and talent, develop new, program tech - 
itiques, transmit outside pick-ups of 
sports and other spot news events, tele- 
cast more live talent programs and 
continue research and development iu. 
all phases of television. 

When . materials' become available, 
N BC w ill construct a telev ision sta tion 
in Washington, D.C. To "establish the 
anchor points of a television 3ystem» 
NBC has also filed application wilh the 
FCC for construction permits for tele- 
vision stations in Chicago, Cleveland, 
Los Angeles, w here N B( already Hiain- 
tains a programming organization and 
studio facilities. 

A nationw ide network will not : spring., 
up overnight, but must proceed as a 
logical development. Such a develops 
incut, as. we see .it; will develop first, 
bv the establishment of regional net- 
works which w ill gradually stretch but 
over wider areas, and finally" '.become 
linked together. . 

Moderate-priced Teleyision Sets 

Despite the problems and risks which 
confront the radio industry, NBC be- 
lieves that telev ision service should he 
brought us soon :,as possible into every 
home, and that this is and should re- 
main the task of private enterprise. 

AS' hile NBC is leading the way in 
de velopinen t of net work tele vision, the 
radio manufacturing industry will lie 
busy building the finest television 
broadcast equipment and television 
receivers at moderate prices. 

" Through this unit v of effort, you can 
count on NBC. to meet the challenge 
and the opportunity which television, 
presents; / :; > ;\" " : : v "; ; /..->; 




atioifal Broadcasting Company 



America's No. 1 Network 




A Service of Radio 
Corporation of America 



Wednesday, July 5, 1944 



PSriety 



RADIO 



27 



Radio Moscow Stripped of Glamor, 
But Does Extensive Editorial Job 



: , . '-Washington, July 4 '. 

The war has converted Russian 
radio primarily into an .adjunct for 
the country's newspapers, with the 
large bulk of the people hearing 
their programs by loudspeaker, an 
official survey made here indicates. 

There is virtually no such thing as 
big name radio, stars, as Americans 
understand it. and announcers are 
seldom identified. : 

A breakdown of programming 
.shows that one of the chief jobs of 
big Radio Moscow is to feed the 
provincial press for several hours 
every day with news delivered at 
dictation speed, with names of indi- 
viduals carefully spelled out for 
those on the listening end. Some 
Russian transmitters regularly broad- 
cast to the .public editorials, news and 
features which have already ap- 
peared in print in Moscow. . . 

Another angle, well developed in 
the Soviet, is documentary broad- 
casting. The mike is occasionally 
taken up to the battle lines for talks 
by Red Army men and the sound of 
battle Factory items are sometimes 
broadcast from the factory con- 
cerned.' '." '"• 

A substantial number of women 
announcers are active in the in- 
dustry. '■'.'. '■'■•'■'.'■ ' ;-'•• . • » '•■• ■..' 

Special Army and. Navy features 
for the benefit of men at the front 
a re broadcast several times weekly 
from Moscow. These go in for an ex- 
change of messages to and from indi- 
viduals in the armed forces. Broad- 
casts for the benefit of "Young 
Listeners" have been whittled down 
substantially due to the war. A new 
stunt has come in since 1942 — special 
transmissions dealing with the roles 
of agriculture and 1 industry in the 
war effort, with some, shows angled 
particularly for those in. specific in- 
dustries. 

Relays of operas and plays, promi- 
nent before Russia got into the war, 
are again getting considerable time 
on the air. piped out of Moscow to; 
the smaller stations. They were. 
Tlroppecl RiT^lrrrost - !! — year—iifter 
June, 1941. There are frequent liter- 
ary broadcasts, and politics is well 



aired. This type of show is handled 
In the several languages spoken by 
the groups making up USSR. 
- It is estimated that about one-third 
of all time on the air is devoted to 
music. Mostly it is classical, gen- 
erally featuring Russian and a few 
19th century German composers. 
Jazz gets out from time to time, 
however— both Soviet and foreign 
types. . '"" , 



Kudosing of Home Town 
Gl's on WGN Program 
Makes for Closer Ties 

, * ': . • • ■"'.'. Chicago. July 4. 

A show which has already gained 
a vast listening public in the two 
weeks it has been on the air and 
which is being, watched closely by 
other broadcasters in this area is the 
short "Chicagoland Fighters in the" 
News" program being heard over 

wgn. - ■ ■■; :•. • :",.:: ; '" 

Heard daily. 1 1:10-11 15 p. m. 
(CWT), Tuesdays through Saturday, 
and at 1 1:05-11:10 p. m, tCWT). Sun- 
days and Mondays, the show men- 
tions 10 to .12 names of men from 
this vicinity, now in the armed 
forces, two of which are singled out 
for detailed stories on their view- 
points and exploits and sometimes 
messages for the home folks which 
are gathered by Chicago Tribune 
correspondents at. the fronts. Shows 
are scripted by the WGN news room 
in straight news form. 



Dunville Steps Up At 
WLW As Shouse Devotes 
Time to Post-War Plans 

Cincinnati. July 4. 

Robert E. Dunville stepped up 
Friday (30) from assistant to gen- 
eral manager of WLW, . relieving 
James D. Shouse for devotion of 
more time to post-war planning and 
other expansion activities, : " 

Shouse, who is vice-president of 
the Crosley Corp.', "in charge of 
broadcasting, made ". the announcer 
ment at the opening of WLW's semi- 
annual general sales meeting, a four- 
day affair, being held here. In .for 
the. huddles! are men from WLW's 
New York and Chicago offices. 

At the same lime Shouse. made 
known that Eldon Park, who has 
been with the New York staff for 
the past -three, years, returns to 
Cir.cy as assistant general manager 
of WLW. • 

A hew division, also announced by 
Shouse, links the . sales promotion,, 
public relations and merchandising 
departments and the specialty sales 
unit, to be directed by Marshall 
Terry, a newcomer to radio. Terry 
was v.p. in charge of sales and also 
public relations director of the 
Trailer. Co. of America.- -'. ... . 



CgiwciI to Set Up Radio Journalism 
Standards in U. S. Schools, Colleges 



Lockheed's 'Man Named X' 

: Hollywood, July 4. 

"Man Nanied X" has been chosen 
by Lockheed, after a half-dozen au- 
ditions, to take over the last half- 
hour ~ former)y~occt«pied— by— Lux— bn- 
CBS Monday nights, for eight-weeks 
beginning July 10. 

Herbert Marshall will star in the 
dramatic stanza in .the role of an 
American intelligence Officer match- 
ing wits with international crooks. 
Stephen Longstreet is scripting.. 

Plans to continue after eight-week 
period indefinite. . . ; , . . :. - 



Cassidy Gets War Dept. 
Okay for Overseas Post 

: . ' . Cincinnati, July 4. 

James Cassidy, WLW's directer of 
special events and international 
broadcasts, last week received no- 
tice from the War Dept. that "he's 
been accredited as a war correspond- 
ent in the European Theatre of Op- 
erations. His first stop will be Lort- 
TJori,' to shdvtWSVe~"broadeasls on war 
developments of particular interest 
to midwest listeners. 



Hitching Your Furniture 
Wagon to a G.O.P. Star 

Chicago, July 4. 
Probably the all time record for 
moving furniture from New York to 
Chicago was broken here last week 
when Tyler Davis, radio director of 
the Chicago office of J. Walter 
Thompson received, the furniture for 
his five-rOom Chicago apartment in a 
little, more than the running time Of 
the "Century." ';. 
. Gimmick was thai the household 
furnishings were loaded on the back 
end of a huge van front part of 
which was loaded with vitally needed 
microphones and amplifiers, sched- 
uled to be used at the Republican 
convention. Police escort who met 
the truck at the state line helped un- 
load the-ftirnlture-ifl-order -to-get-the 
radio equipment to the stadium in 
the shortest possible time. 



Gorntaine Vice W.K. Clark 
As WJR Script Chief 

Detroit, July. 4. 

Replacing WJR's script chief. Wil- 
liam Kendall Clark, who has joined 
CBS, is Earl Gormaine, who has 
been .writing" and producing radio 
dramas for the Detroit Public 
Schools for the past five years. For 
the past two years he has Scripted 
the WWJ drama "Our World Today." 

A new addition in the station's 
production department is • Walter 
Koste, for several years an actor and 
technician with the Wayne Univer- 
sity Workshop. •. 



Blue Net's Transmitter 
Bid for Va. Protested 

Washington, July 4. 

Residents of the Langley-McLean 
area of Northern Virginia are up in 
arms oyer a recent request by the 
Blue network to erect a; 250-foot 
transmitter tower in their com- 
munity now zoned residential. Tower 
would sent out programs for WMAL, 
the D. C. outlet for the Blue. 

Petition is being circulated by the 
residents who plan to carry the 
matter before the Fairfax County 
Zoning Appeals Board Thursday 
(6). They ; claim the tower, will af- 
fect the value of their property. 



. Washington, July 4. 

Radio industry and officials of va- 
rious colleges are considering the 
formation of a Council on Radio 
Journalism, a permanent group to 
formulate standards and install full- 
time, courses' in radio journalism in 
schools and colleges, according to 
NAB. — .. - •. ■ 

Plan is outgrowth of the recent 
joint meeting of the NAB Radio 
News Sub-Committee and the Radio 
Committees of the American Assn. 
o( Schools and, Departments of Jour- 
nalism and the National -Assri i of 
State Universities. 

"Fred Siebert, president Of AASDJ 
and director of the School of Jour- 
nalism at. the University of Illinois." 
said NAB. ''will prepare a report for 
NAB in August outlining complete 
details and naming personnel of the 
Council. The Council as planned 
would include representatives of 
NAB, networks, radio division of the 
press associations, school and college 
associations, the president of AASDJ, 
the Federal Radio Education Com- 
mittee and the Assn. for Education 
by Radio." ;/•■'....'• c : * '■ 



Salvation Army Buys 
WFIL Jhifly, Air Time 
For Goodwill Buildup 

Philadelphia, July 4. 

The Salvation Army is going com- 
mercial here for the first time. . 
. Convinced that radio is best good- 
will builder, the "Army" has bought 
time on WFIL for a weekly report 
oh its activities. WFIL will pump 
the show over a regional "network," 
consisting of WILM, Wilmington, 
Del.; WGAL, Lancaster; WEEU, 
Reading, and WSAN. Allentown. . '. 

Handling the show will be Mrs. 
Samuel Hepburn, wife of Brigadier 
General in charge of local "Sally" 
headquarters. Salvation Army Work- 
ers in warfronts will also forward 
news here about soldiers from this 
a rea . . ■ " .-. . . ',, . 

Deal was set. by Labrum-Hanson 
agency. 



EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT AT 10 (EWT) 



(ON 181 BLUE NETWORK STATIONS) 



.a half-hour with radio's Friendliest Family. . 



U 



THE LIFE OF RILEY 



WITH 



WILLIAM BENDIX, 



AS RILEY 



( WRITERS: ASHMEAD SCOTT, ALAN LIPSCOTT, REUBEN SHIP V 
DIRECTOR: DON BERNARD MUSIC: LOU KOSLOFF J 



Sponsor i AMERICAN MEAT INSTITUTE 

: (W. R. KINNAIRD, Adv. Mj»r.) 



Agency : LEO BURNETT COMPANY 

(FRANK FERRIN, V.P, Radio) 



• Notice is hereby given that any 
attempt to make use of the title, 
atoiy situations or cftaracteria used 
'in, these programs will be vigorous- 
ly prosecuted. 



j 



2SS 



RADIO REVIEWS 



Wejnegt%f July S, 1911 



Obler's 'Surrenief Points Up How 
To Sell Bonds Best—Via Entertainment 



K, NAT RAHN 

Ir( tt.|.»%>",flV- lit ilOllfl sal'-, if" its""* * 

In .■ ,.";>!'! I nn 'ictuDii liii' >h t 
. vsriot •> • promotion- WV fl** 
hav'j hart a ot'i'tnin enervating erteci. 
T-Mniuch hljjh pressure'.'; too.ii'-wif. 
. S j!c<moMV Well, maybe. 
_ St any, rate. A rch Oboler,. wrth Jhts 
fariliU- -tor "dramatic suggestion., has 
lea :iit«:l innv not to'crani it «Of.ni ; 
their throat*. Alid '.Qboler's dr'ama-'C 
■wivitft'ii!' tor radio lias; been: seUlUft: a 
lot- oC bo.nd<-' His. "'Surrender' wit! 

"Surrender." ope :«l tour piaUeij 
written tor. radio, t wo by. O >oVi and 

'tli - ol'i'jr oair IK. William >.. ctob'.o,'. 
to in i t. «tt: the Jrcasii ry's, latest hurt 
daw anfl is 23-- »< 1-!^ "\V' n \4,'" • 
...,:( r J -Fold Wi the.fftth. All »>>• 
Oil (llS'N ".- •■ , -.•■■' 

l ist week two <i[ the dWCsvW'ttff* 
ftl ilvl oiV NcvA'nrk stations. *'Sm-.-- 
render" on WQXK and "High Com- 
rirmd " bv Ttobson-. mi WMCA. But it, 
Was "Si<rrenner v that excited, the 
greater interest because of its neatly 
(.•oufvived inferences 'that hers; ,iu its 
.stbi* was' tin: . ' reason why bonds 
slioUM be bought. It was notable yn- 
stinie of Oboler's best Wilting, tel.UHB 
the stoi'v of .an American doughboys 
canture'of a Nazi aviator in SYa.ic-.* 

.-dlfeig the recent invasion. It was 
th- store of American trust and: :Nazi 
doublecr-ossing,._lt . was the story of 
wUv we must buy bonds. .. ... , ■ . 

Eranchof Tone and Hans Coureid 




(|.!|;Sri "M. nil fur Miili.Mi»" m* :'£js»i«l'.l 

Naw CAMF.fi I'KtMiKXM. Frt*Mr 
III ,..«•.. K.W1' 



Overseas for USO Since Jan. 
'43 _no w ; Touring British Isles 



.il.ivc'i liv American and , N:; >.\. iv- 
s.i;e;»< .1. , and . their .perliirniai wr» 
•- nx* cii small measure reSponvibU' 
fo< ;'v .W-mlmite di'ama'.s iorceitii 
iViTerjnvl ition. It was a Him V ' told 
siiuoly.. of ' how. -, in a . moment. ',-tii 
Weakness- the American allowed 
hinwe'i. lo.be lulled into a:false sense 
o'f.'»*citt'>iy ,b'y 'I'lie'.su.i! t;fc:riotrt rrattr^h e 
N'ui vv.iSj after all. no different than 
ire! The Nazi Was a farmer in hi- 
n-ifiV.; Girniany;. f he American tilled. 
ih.> soil in Indiana And bo.th liked 
blondes... : . ;, -..•••' ' ; 

It soeme i then. that, only nie.Cet- 
•). ..i ,)■■•• ers that be were res])onsib!e 
•for olive-drab tunic which the Mar'.i. 
.was' forced to wear: 'But the climactic 
i.n.'i'.l When the. Nazi Riiii.ied po-- 
s:-,siou oi the nun and- then shot the 
American' who had tried to 'saitl lus 
f.riendshio..- was a .message .wi'tK all 
tiia imolications. Thai bonds were 
imiioi-tant to defeat such an enemy,: , 
.In "Hiuh Comiiiarid" Paul LnUa 1 : 
and Ei'ic'h Von Sli-oheim v\ere the 
leads';, the seriot ehiohasizinij one 
lOiabl? factoi— that even -.after, the 
i res-en t War .Germany 'will soon pre- 
■»ii'e tor anotbei . 
; O'lz aimed directly <il t'ie U»ned 

S'.>-f«; ■ - .- . - 

ThJ scriot emohasized the.- mis- 
ta!tas bf the last peace, (How .s.lu- 
ot'dlv tolerant was the Allied- Com- 
inaud, and .how .quick the Germans 
were to realize ttiiijl. But .it was too 
niuch of a statistical approach, dwell- 
iiiS on •historical, parables of the two 
world wais; ' 

It was Understandable, yet it re- 
maiiied; for the simpler narrative— 
'■Siiri ehder"— to possess a greater ac- 
catjtaiice' value. It sold.bonds throuijh 
a booular inedium— entertainment. ; ; 



•'COMBAT COERESPON DENT" 
Writer: Milton Robertson 
'OirecW: Jack Or*gan 
fi-oducer: *tttd Cotl 
IS Mills.. Tliiirsday, 9:45 l».in. 
Sustnillilis 

WNEW, New Yftrk ■ . 

New. series -Of service programs 
over WNEW startins Thursday <2»> 
9:45: to 10 P.m. titled '-Combat Cor- 
•.•esi'ondent." kudosed the roje -ot the 
Marine correspondent and photos-, 
raphtsr in -.simple.; effective style. 
Short; . pithy, piosram fpfvti-'&xaibii-'. 
zat-ii-ns 'of three .stories" sent bac k by 
corresoondent:".. the stories being 




FRED LIGHTS ER 

Dir.: PHIL COSCi* 



parllv'told bv the emcee and part in 
Rripluc- dashbacks. Good .sound 
eiTe'cts of battle and war background 
helped. 

Master T'Se.1. Gene Ward, ex- 
■N. Y. Daily News sports- writer and 
Marine combat- correspondent in the. 
Pacittq. emceed.. reveal ins .a. good, 
soeakin? voice and convincing, hioiir 
•commercial manner as a' distinct 
asset, to the program. Stories wet.! 
varied, from Bougainville. Normandy 
and Truk. Correspondents were 
shown as lighters as well as write-is, 
jnisin.g in the melee when needed, 
meanwhile Oiling newspaperman's 
chief function of bringing back a 
good story. It's a good war program. 

Bro«. 




• WORDS AT WAR" 
Witli Oil Van Diitrn (crimmeiila 
. tiiri; Berrv Kr«e«rr, Ann Shep 

(Miii. *»lher« 
UrniiH 

Writer. Gerald Hnllaui 
I'TOdueer: Anton M. Leader 
::>» AM ns.: T.ies.: a::i« i».m.' 
.IOIINSON"S WAX 
WI;AI'-NI«'. New York 

• i Veed/idii',. Lon/s (it Browj' 
•' ••■Word.- At War" is now t'ne sum- 
mer . reblaeomon t show for- v-p'.ibber 
McGee and Mollv" at 9:30 p.m.. Tues- 
daviJ switching from ihe 1 l::l()-mid- 
night oeriod of the same'night. with 
its negiigible audience, into one of 
nieTwr." .WysT-rsopiflar" gpoty-hi- al I - 
radio. That stands as -a tribute to 
,.he coXirage--not to mention sound, 
common and. oracliciil business sense 
of .Ibhnson's Wax. m taking over 
the program uVr:. sponsorship, while 
•'Fibber"' takes, j hiatus,. , -..' 

. It's courageous' because "Words, 
wi the basis of : .past' pcrfoi'mauces. 
doesn't mince words' or pull its 
ouuche.s, It Calls a Fascist by his 
right' name and points the. . finger- at 
;lie hidden enemy on the home front 
hi- addition lo the more: easily recog- 
ni'.ed foe im the battle front, It is 
■ sound common sense ' and practical 
business sense because, in venturing 
into se riou s ' -s'u ifl m er ti me p rog ra m - 
niiug, it is both capitalizing- Oiv the 
genei'3l trend of feeling ;■ during the 
most crucial sutnmei in all hisioiy 
and .oilers something dislinct and 
aoait from the usual' hot weather 
fare. In terms of tirestigfi^a!one_it 
,sl.Hiii!d pay oil enormous dividends 
to the sbonsors. . ■. ;,' .; .' ■ 

That th. > mltiar dramatization un- 
der commorcial -auspices, failed to 
deliver tlie. anticipated body blow 
somehow .doesn't : niiiiimize the im- 
iiortaiice of the program, which is 
put -on by N3C production staffers 
in cbooefation , with the Council on 
Books 'in Wariime. with the latter 
sharing in" , the .sponsorship coin. 
Basicaliv. it' was the fault, ot the 
author, H. E. Bates, and his ho\el. 
'Fair SI bod the Wind for.. France.' 
which was chosen for adaptation .to 
lee off the new. series.. - - 
•The radio scripting job. the overall 
production utilizing both the nan-ar 
liotV 'technique and episodic drama-; 
tUation of events, not to mention 
the acting, were of a pattern, de- 
noting radio's full ■■maturity, but the 
anticipated impact of the story was 
never quite achieved. For Bates 
permitted his novel, to deteriorate 
into a love .story.. with only an under- 
current of the. French underground 
activities and courageous-spirit of a. 
freedom-loving people that, particu- 
lar! v today!-. .uiigliL. otherwise have 
made this a noteworthy addition to 
the "Word/' series. /;' 

Cart Van Doren lias been addecj.to 
the orogram as commentator. 'Filling 
iii the background ancnt author and 
book: ail*, -for: the- benefit of late 
comeivs. giving a cadsule resume at 
the midway mark of what had pre- 
ceded. Aside -front the name value, 
however, the fact, remains that his 
importance W. the program is still 
doubtiul. 

Lending an, unique touch to the 
orogram are the commercials as 
treated by -lack Coslello. In.effect. 
Johnson's Wax characterizes them 
as a ; necessary evil on such a show 
and are injected on a semi-apologetic 
note, with Coste.Ui) asking . the audi- 
ence to bear with hint tor: the two 
terse plugs at. the beginning and end 
.»(. the program. 'It almost sounds 
like '"th..e 'millennium.' v ;Rotie. 



a favoiablrt impression. Certainly a 
mora leisurely paca would be suited 
lo his cotnedic: ■' talents.- ■ Its some- 
ming hii scrioter* might well bear 
in mind. Instead ot piling up one 
idea after another to tli» extent that 
nuns of them quite jells, it would be 
wiser to play around a situation and 
allow Young to go .to town on it. 
For once he'i grooved properly, he s 
bound to go, places. 

Format for summer show is keyed 
for laughs and built almost entirely 
around Young, who works .with a 
couple of stooges, in addition to Bea 
Wain, who was, in; tor two numbers, 
I'll Be Seeing' You" and .VHalW'r 
i tl .i«]h Y Z._piu ! L ii^,.-£ro8Sj>anier; i . will; 
the program's star.: Miss Wanv^s 



okay -on both her speaking Jmes 
and' in' the vocal department. Peter 
vaii .Sieedeii's orch, as usual. Bis 
neatly .in the musical background 
pic! ore.. .' • : . •-;. • -:.-•.','.':'- Y; 

! . W-iiat was intended, as a "cute" 
stunt , hi- tieins in .the Ipana-Sa 
Heoatica commercials with the script 
aetua'itv canie out mora as a plug 
for the Theatre Guild and Us smash 
-Oklahoma': than for the products 
intended. And why if.* necessary to 
utilize a show's star ior .serious com- 
mercial plug's is. one of those un- 
fathomabli mysteries that, perhaps, 
makes radio what it is. Knse; - 

JAMES MKI.TON 

With N»» Fi«4»«n Oroli. X*y Tliomii- 
M<i Choir. H«w»r4 retry, Glimy 

Sin»'"* (»ue«t> ■■ _L_ 

V' jk r I V- / • 

30 Mlns ; Sun.. 9:.?4 p.m. 
TEXACO: ;„ ," - 

W ABC -t'M, N«w y»i'k; .'. V " 
i Svchwivn 



•'BINDERS KWPmH"-. 

With Bub Sherry, Julia €.'.».« w.nr, 
IrvinK Miller OrvH, ftwen -la 
H»loj». I.ee ■ ttraiy t«4 Ai Mmr 
Ellner 

Prudueer: Ira A vera 

Writer: Marjorie if'iUher 

SO Mlns., M«ii.-Frid»y, lt»::;»-ll 

Sustaining 

WK.VK.NBt, Ntw Viirk '.. 

Novel quiz show de-sigpini u wac 
execs to hypo net's morning nchr j,,..-. 
should do Hist that. Airer is m- 
teresting f hauee-.of-pjcer in 'ni irui.fg.:. 
priigiainmiug . and shoul.t pr iv'i^ 
welcome relief from; Hi* ,. •,) ), 
3oaper-diet;--Sessioii-featui ; e,s-:^-;d-i'a-- : 
mat.ic cast enacting brief iut.ei lu.ii-i 
containing many mistakes md Jiift.. 
once participant's, must dud tiw.,« 
mislakcs; their abih'.. to J , de- 
lermines the amount of their re.wacd, ; 
Mistake idea is eveii carried thr-nig-i' 
in the vocals by Julie Coii.way -,' -'. ' . 

Dramatic skits, httv* oMvior.S'y 
been- written Willi a broad ban j and 
generous helping, of coin, but -tTi'a 
earlv . spotting ot" Ihe show Vou'd 
poin't to this-typ« of humor— -o.'.),i:« 
don't lend to be sophisticated at. I«::i(l 
a.m. The "Fiiidei'S: Keepers' Playe' n 
play their roles straight and at fjfnVjii 
i iv.-a- ttigli iy dra malic, f ash ion , biit^tlis 
mistakes, necessarily fairly obvious, 
give the lie to their seriousness. Bob 
Avery emcees the show in tlw uov/ 
familiar pattern set by other net. . 
work early -morning humorists: Ilk*. 
Tom Bt w ai n ari-an d Ja'cls K trk'tthrrtr 



'• Why 'I'revor! Oan't i-arry little me! I'roni now pit you're "~; 
;.; K«tting Wheatiea «?e-ry nu>niiii!» for breakfast;*- 

T'm -Tarzan in Trevor shoulfl iiailk, i'ruit. and Wheaties. "Breuk.- 
aiHiil ^iipeii-r- under a Whe-Jties re- fast of ('iiani|iions." (iappiiv fo'i 
K'iiie. For there's: hiffiv-oftane noar-l Tre/or, these whole wiie'at flakes 
"W'went- in .i;mg^sTze-iv(>wlf3'« orl ure also sei^iKHieliiitifv jfooil! 



AliAN YOtj.N'O SHOW" 
Willi Alan Yimih).. «ea Wuin. Pciei' 

van Steeden's Orch 
Writers: Bi.li Marko. t'olmaii Jacoby 
Oireetor: Walter Bunker - \ : '. 
i)d Mills., Wei:, !l ii.iu. 

bristoi;-aiyi:rs 

WEAI -NBC, New York \. ;' 
lYomiq & Rubicon;* 
, To 'the extent that m;w aiici prom- 
sing talent^— pai'tic.ularly in the com- 
edy field.- where a. dearth is espe- 
cially acute— should be encouraged; 
the emergence of Alan Yiiung. Can- 
ada's i'avdi'ite comic, with a night- 
time network show.- of his own. is 
.distinctly on '.the credit side. Radio 
has' .'too' long shunned" the "open 
door'" policy' through which, alone 
can it possibly keep abreast of pise, 
the legitimate; theatre and other en- 
ieriaiui.ueiil media in developiug 
fresh peisonalilies. . 
. Tl.ie fact . remains. : however., that 
Young. iVhile displaying an individ- 
ual slyle iif. delivery .and promise of 
•Ijefrei things to coim;.: ' wasn't ex-, 
act IV giii.ived to big-league stuff.; in 
his teeoif- program last Wednesday 
(28)' as the Bristol-Myers summer 
-replacement for Eddie Cantor. The 
..(anils'.- however.' are ones that can be 
remedied, for .essentially Young, has 
a; flair fur. comedy lines that should, 
eventually- sjst'lWish him - -in this 
country in the same degree to which 
liis native Canada has taken to hint.' 
. Chief f'.iull in the initial progratp 
scenu'ii t'n . lie in the pacing of tlie 
'show.. T,h.i feeling was iiiescap;Ui!e_ 
.that Yoniu yviis trying, too desper- 
ately, !o: kniiclc himself o'tit aiid make 



James Melton's summer replace- 
ment' for Fred ' Allen is a' .pleasant 
musical interlud*. no boff but easy 
listening. : .H«'* backed by a svelte 
orchestra lindar M-G Maestro Nat 
Finston. with nam* quests to come. 
Consideriiig Melton's current Metro 
chora ■(•'Ziegfeldl Follies"', Ginny 
Simms'M-G contract (also a plug for 
her 'Bathing Beauty '0, and the next- 
week's guester, Kathryu Grayson, 
also out oC tba Culver City, stable, its 
a coincideiitarcommercial for Metro, 
Show ivas pleasant summer fare as 
Melton paced it, with emphasis on 
pops to ops. He did "I Lov« You 
Gersh win's 'Tv« Got ; Plenty ol 
Kotb'ui,' " and an aria from •'Martha, 
to square the operatic category. Miss 
Simms dueled "Lons Ago and Far 
\way " soloed "Am or"' (from one of 
hex pis i and with M alton alternated 
on -'Ov#r Thare." •KeeiT't'he HottW 
Fires Burning" .and' "With My Head 
in the Clouds." Thesa were lie raided 
tii as "a salute to the forces ot 
freedom." and also as "three of the 
greatest War songs ever written, 
i "Clouds," least known of the trio, is 
from Irving Berlin's "This Is the 
Army" score '. Much was mad« of 
Miss' Simms' popularity with th« 
Gt» and Melton also got in a War 
Bond, pitch for Ch* songstress, him- 
self and. Fiuston. 

Melton's fetish of collecting an- 
tique automobiles (h« owns 75, one 
model dating back to 18981 ^ave 
Howard Petty »- plausibja spring- 
board for his Texaco commercials. 

^Finston's big orchestra and the 
Kav Thompson choii liad their in- 
niiigs "in ftie Gershwin, Porter and 
Kern excerots plus a symphonic 
airangemeitt of "I'll Get By:" (That 
this Pop was revived in a Metro 
film. "X Guy Nam^d Joe," was not 
announced, so it's only an inferential 
p'utg.i ■'. : • : , Abel. 

ROBERT F. HUBliEfGH AND THE 

■ news '*--" : : . •' .•.;.;''. -; : -; 

News Cointneiiiary 
Witter: Robert P. Murletgh 
Producer: .Mik» t'oimor 
15 Mills., ;'M««4toy through Friday, 

8-8:15 *.oi. CWf 
sTliPHANO BROS. (Marvel C'ija- 

retsl 
WBBM, C'kieat* 

Approaching hi*. subjects with an 
air of conviction and done with a 
ices, crisp .delivery,. HurJeiKh, who 
was formerly, inatiager of the radio 
deoattment of the AP Central Divi- 
sion In Chicago, can easily take his 
place among the best of Ilia midwest 
newscasters, , ','' ' /, -. ;:'' 

In -tackling the tiews of the world 
his sci.iO''.s .a"re aouttd. in writing, his 
analyses clt»ar m presentation of 
thought and seeiuingly well autben- 
licated 'aud his manner an attention- 
holder. : : ';..'• .'■-.:.; Morg. 



Miss. Conway exhibiled a clrirmi'iij 
radio voice:' but: the; one: cliotiw o? 
• Let Me Call ,Y.6u Sweetheart"' jih» 
sang just wasn't enough The/ 
should give her more opportunity t.;> . 
inject a melodious uote into th» pip- 
ceediugS. whicii oil Mia' whole : pi-iii/ide 
good'morning listeiiidg. ' Ti<i\i. 




SALT LAKE 





it 



S r S,FOX; : 
Pratident and <&anar,il Man 

JOHN IBILMUt « m 
.'; - National K«»»r«««iiii»«Jt»s»» 



WATERFRONT PROPERTY 

180 ft. bv ft.— unusual all-year round house— l»u«g»1»w 4yil»J- 
brick, 7 rooms. % baths, :2 porches, living room Hi ft. bijr iSS **--. »ri6.«e* 
Open Bre place, oil burner. 4-car garage, private doek, privat* bear'"- ■ 
l andscaped gardening. Cost S45.000. Will sacrifice, ]Ni* ; tMMli»W« 
offer refused. Must be seen to be appreciated. Taxes . *p.prire»n<'»t*V- . 
OS*, Call Oceanic Trading Co., 29 West 30th St.. New Yt»rk. 
CM-_J.-3T'!S oil Monday through Thursday, or Baldwin tKt, »-» 
Friday through Sunday. ■ .•'' :■'•.■■• '.'.■■'■ ..■ '-;.. -■ -' • 



FOR Helping Ralph Edwards' 



TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES" 

IN RALEIGH j SATURDAY NIGHT ! 

CONTINUING ' STH WAR LOAN TOUR— THROUGH THE SOUTH 



Wednesday, July 5, 1944 



"GLAMOUR MANOR" 
With Cliff Arquettc, Lurene Tuttle, 
Ben Benaderet, Tyler McVey, John 
Mclntyre, Terry O'Sullivan. Jack 
Bailey, Hal Stevens and Charles 
Hale's Orch 
producer: Al Kaye 
Director: Betty Buckler 
Writers: Al Rlnker and Others 
30 Mins., Mon.-Friday, 12 Noon 
PROCTER & GAMBLE 
WJZ-Blue, New York 

(Benton & Bowles) . ' ' 
'.' Oil Aiquette has been in sho.w- 
itiiisiness for ninny years, arid the 
lines they gave him and the rest of 
the fast, on _the first program of 
'.'Glamour Manor" Monday CSJ'-al 
noon, have been making the rounds 
lor a . long time, too. Only thing 
missing from 'this imaginary radio 
hotel is a doctor, and that is. just 
what this comedy show needs— -a 
script doctor with jokes. . ,'<'- ;,. 

The "funny" remarks made by the 
usual corny characters of any hotel 
stanza — i.e.; the owner, desk clerk, 
bellboy and guests— Avere unbeliev- 
ably stale, trite and commonplace,, as 
were the situations, in which, these 
persons, found themselves: . 'It. will be' 
interesting to see how the eight— yes: 
eight— writers sighed' by Beaton & 
Bowles for this half-hour Monday 
through Friday hodgepodge extricate 
themselves, and their program, from 
this surprising mess,. 

Monday, Wednesday and Friday 
will be devoted to straight comedy 
- rsic y -sta rrras;-' whjle. Tuesd a ys ; a« d- 
Thursdays will- be known asy'Ladies 
Day.'' with studio audiences partiei- 
-tpating in contests and quizzes. The 
• audience participation angle might 
well be the saving grace of the entire 
setup.., ,':: ; '•, ' :■ ■ '"■;' 
'. Hal Stevens, who has a fair, voice, 
delivered one tune on the opening 
program. "I'll Be Seeing You." in 
listenable fashion. Charles . Hale's 
orchestra accompanied him expertly, 
and the musical crew, on its own, 
played a swell arrangement of "What 



PUbRIETY 



RADIO REVIEWS 



29 



Is This Thing Called Love." More 
work by the musical aggregation and 
Stevens will bolster the stint some. 

Then there's a chap monikered 
Terry O'Sullivan who practically 
yells at the customers to please buy 
Crisco and Ivory Snow. The things 
he said, and the Way he said them, 
commercially, sounded as if the 
sponsor would go out of business to. 
morrow, if listeners didn't buy the 
stufl today. The plea for P & G 
needs a' toning down — but immedi- 
ately. There are too many plugs, 
and they come at the most awkward 
spots in. the show, too, Sten. 



ST 



fi In The Billboard's recent 
I poll to determine local sta- 
tions whose public rela- 
tions have been outstanding, 
WTAG ranked first In Central New 
. England. Public relations as a branch 
. of public service, has helped. to main- 
lain VY'TAG's fop rating In Listening 
-Station Indexes. When you buy time, 
buy an audience from the INSIDE. 



WTAG 

WORCESTER 



the 
the. 



RADIO TIME ' 
SALESMAN WANTED 

WKN V. Ki-ltenecfftfly. lias niMt*n»'lly 
Milriiiliil opportunity, for temx'. ■»*-'. 
|i*rfom-etl mii leNimin, KIkIu iiintt van 
mult* S 1 00 or nioir ut*r \vr«*k without 
bnm-klnjr lilni.nHf out. IVrnmneot. 
.Wire for aoiHKntmenl ami come on. 



"DANGEROUSLY YOURS"" 

With Victor Jory, Gertrude Warner, 

Martin Gabel, Harry. Marvel, Guy 

Slahl, Phil Clarke, John Moore, 

Joan Croydon, Burford Hampden 

and Mark Warnow's orch 
Producers: Nick Dawson, Ed Wolf 
Director: Richard Sanville '" • 
Writer: jean Ilolloway ';. , 
SO Mins., Sun., 2 p.m. 
VICKS CHEMICAL - CO. 
WABC-CBS, New York 

(Morse '.International): 

Vicks' bid for drug sales via 
airwaves is now being made by 
dramatic series geared for women 
audiences .entitled "Dangerously 
Yours." Stanza teed off last Sunday 
t2) at 2 p.m. and in, the 30-minute 
allotted . time, with the aid of fine 

.acting, and produ ct ion tec hniques. 

proved itself one of the. better shows 
of daytime radio. „ - 

Starring Victor Jory and'Gerti'ude 
Warner, with .Mart ill. Gabel as the 
"voice of adventure," the initial pro- 
gram dramatized Alfred Noyes' ro- 
mantic poem. "The Highwayman." 
Entire production had all the ingre- 
dients of an ultra-expensive night- 
time show, even a sock original musi- 
cal background by Mark Warnow 
and his orch that added much value.: 
..' Program . .was presented through 
the medium of a series of flashbacks, 
dominated, by the voice of Gabel 
reading Noyes' poem. 

Jory. Gabel and Miss Warner will 
be .weekly regulars on the show, and 
as such "are definite assets. Their 
handling of the chores given them on 
this tee-off program was of such top- 
flight value that this program should 
catch on through unstinted word-6f- 
mouth. Performances, were such that 
singly none were too remarkable, 
but as a team the goal was achieved 
neatly. '- <.;',;' ~; ■.'■■:• '.;.■ 

For. the well-knit continuity and 
smooth pace credit must go to 
adapter Jean Holloway and director 
Richard. SanviUe. Fact that Sanville 
has the production guidance of. vet- 
erans Nick Dawson and Ed Wolf in 
easing the weight is also to Vicks' 
credit, further proof that there was 
no sparing on budget for_ this show, 
and no corners, were cut in the pre- 
sentation of the expensive package. 

Commercials, as presented by an- 
nouncer Harry Marvel, were in good 
taste, short and to the point. Slen. 



Mexico City— Radio stations that 
feature announcing the correct time 
are enjoying a wider audience now 
that Mexico's two private, phone 
companies have eliminated that serv- 
ice because war conditions are put- 
ting a heavy strain on their equip- 
ment. '.•■"'":■' V •-.'■: 



Pfc; Waller Freedroan, specially 
borrowed by Paul Wh.iteman to do 
the piano solo for the O'i-minute 
rendition of "Rhapsody in. Blue" on 
the Philco Summer Hour, was a 
wow. Freedmaiy is a Mark Warnow 
alumnus, i Pianist's avow impression 
was even more noticeable : in the 
Blue network's Ritz theatre, N. Y., 
Sunday, the audience rising in .ac- 
claim.— Ed.) Ilerie Woods, new song- 
stress, replacing Evelyn Knight, op- 
-posite— -Bob- Johnston,; did — more- 
Gershwiniana in vocal duet to good 
results. Whitcman's dansapation tops 
per usual.; . 

-'.'.Cohan and Gershwin are sharing 
honors these days, 'the Yankee Doodle- 
Dandy naturally getting the July 4 
salute, and the seventh anniversary, 
of Gershwin's death iii July likewise 
being widely reprised. ..' 

Formal of the Milton Berle show 
tor Evei'sharp, "Let Yourself Go," on 
the Blue Tuesdays, has been changed 
lor the belter; Instead of having 
members of the audience exchange 
banter with Berle, name guestars are 
used to express, their hidden desires* 
make withthe sometimes funny re- 
marks, and also: display their talent. 
On stanza heard :i 27), Lawrence Tib- 
bett led an array of guests; who also 
included Doily. Djiwn, Har-r-y— Con- 
over, the ..cover girl selector, and 
three of his models. Changeover to 
pip.' talent might well .be just -what 
the Hooper doctor ordered, ,- : ' 



• 83,9*. 

of WSAI's 
contracts are 
RENEWED 

contracts! 

US A I 

": r -*ltf»it6N ©F.'tMt OOJUV <0>>6MlldN ,.' 

.' CINCINNATI 1. OHIO 



weight of the accumulative data 
never for one moment bbgged down 
the dialog. Jefferson and Hamilton, 
naturally, by their "divergent view- 
points, were at one another's throat 
and when quieted down by Franklin 
reverted to their polite diplomatic 
manner. Punctuating the historical 
disclosures were the genial arid: in-' 
formal moments as Franklin and 
Jefferson described with unaffected 
simplicity the ". many, unusual; gadg- 
ets they invented. " 

What made this half-hour program, 
stand head and shoulders above most 
educational sessions was thai.- in 
reality, it was an "invitation to learn- 
ins." . ■-:...";;•■ ... ',.: 

' 'Pour 'iTiperb "characterizations" 
Were turned in by Raymond Edward 
Johnson < Jefferson ); Jose. Ferrer 
(Hamilton); William ' Podznow 
fFrahklin) and Ted . Jewell iM.'idi- 
son), all of Whom did :niuch to vital- 
ize, and humanize Shayon's .script. 
•"";.'■*:■•. '.■•■. : '■' '.'■■':'' ' '■ Hose. 



Ward 



"FITCH SL'MSiKR BAN D W AGON" 
With Frances Williams, Les 3rown 

Orch, Jerry Sears Choral Group, 

Tom Redely 
Writer - Producer - Director: 

Byron 

30 Mins., Sun.,' .7:30 p.m. '""•'."" 
FltfCH SHAMPOO 
WEAF-NBC, N ... Y. 

IL..W. Ramsay). ■ 
The "Fitch Summer Bandwagon" 
idea' of spotting "G I Circuit" vets 
who have returned from entertain- 
ing American servicemen overseas is 
a surefire bet. Not only does it build 
goodwill, as these performers have 
the»thanks and blessings of all peor 
pie, but it becomes a bond between 
home and the GI Joes and Janes all 
oyer the globe, rekindled through 
anecdote or song. 

;As it came out on this hot-weather 
airer. it featured Frances Williams, 
musical-comedy star, as. .first guest 
and' permanent program . member', 
who leads' a. parade 61 ' visitors "each 
week from radio, stage, screen, etc., 
who have been Over to entertain the 
boys, with Les Brown and '-his. orch 
the regular mitsickers. for the sum- 
mer. In keeping with the format; 
the final five minutes is devoted to 
news 

Getaway stanza. had Miss Williams, 
who .recently", returned after five 
months in Africa and the Middle East, 
kudosing all entertainers who have 
given of their, time and talent to 
boost morale. Relating some of her 
experiences, both humorous and se- 
rious, she sang "For Me and My Gal" 
and "Shine On Harvest Moon" as 
favorite soldier tunes. Only fault 
was the paucity of. stories, a few 
more of which would go a long way 
in satisfying listeners yearning for 
more qh-t He-spot tales'. J 

Brown's orch helped round out the 
session musically by contributing in 
smooth fashion "Mexican Hat Dance," 
"Amor." sung by Gordon Drake, 
"Out of Now here" and "Swinging on 
a Star," with vocals, by Doris Day, 
Butch Stone and the chorus. Tom 
Reddy concluded with news flashes. 
The entire 'stint demonstrated orig- 
inality and freshness. • V - ;■;'.' 



"JOHN FISHER REPORTS" 
15 Mins. Friday; 10:15-10:30 p.m.. 
Sustaining - 
CBO-CBC, Ottawa ';•' 

Ne wsman Jolni Fisher wr ites, pro- 
duces and solos in this new summer 
series on ' Canadian Broadcasting 
Corp. Trahs - Canada web which 
preemed June 23 in the CBO studios 

in Ottawa, but w ; il) originate in 
various cities as Fisher moves west 
to the coast. Talk show is designed 
along Nesbitt "Passing. Parade" lines 
but ties in opinion . and comment 
along: with '.descriptive material, 
Fisher, former .reporter but now 
CBC^ staffer, has a. smooth, catchy 
delivery. -...■'' '.' ;..'.' 

Series teed-off with/script on 
Canada's Capital City. Ottawa. 
;'• Series, will concentrate, on Can. 
topics or subjects related to 'Canada.- 
Gorm. 



"FISH POND" ■ 

With Win Elliott Dorian, St. Georc*. 
Jack McCarthy, John Kella, Eddie 
Willis, Leo Weber. - ' 

Producer; John Cleary 

Writer: Lee Seg-all 

30 Mins., Fridays, 10:30-11 p.m. ,•,.,.. '■ 
Sustaining 

WJZ-Blue, New York 

Quiz session with a hew twist, 
should prove to be an okay entry in 
the quiz ranks if the quality. of the 
contestants holds tip. Session de- 
pends on performances .- by studio 
members. Latter sing, tell jokes and 
carry on in devious . /wiiys .and are 
rewarded according to decisibn of 
t lie audience. If contestant is- satis'-' 
-factoi^i-- lookers-on signify - their- 
evaluation by yelling, "Reel Him in,". 
If. on the contrary; the contestant 
fails to corral the . audience's sym- 
pathies the decision is, "Throw him 
back." Thus studio audience' is"' 
likened to a fish pond wiih desirable 
or undesirable fish according to their 
talents. 

All the "fish" caught oh fhe stanza 
last Friday (30) Were desirable ac- 
cording to the studio audience ' but 
:on the air the. last contestant, as. rep- 
! csentcd by a quartet of servicemen 
teaming to vocal "Bv the Light of 
the' Silvery Moon," certainly struck 
a discordant and undes j ra ble note. 
Amount of money awarded is deter- 
mined by paying a certain sum .per 
pound to successful contestants; the 
heavier the contestant ..the more 
money he gets. 

-Win Elliott emcees the show and 
docs a good. job; keeping things mov- ■ 
ing along at a good pace, but, some 
of the high-powered corn he .dis- 
penses could'-. stand distillation. 

: '-,.'' ''.: ".' ' ' ' . 'f 11) 0. 



San Antonio, — Jean Searle has 
taken over- duties as merchandise 
manager of WOAI, Veplacihg Waller 
Zahrt, who has held the post for the 
past five years. Zahrt is now an ap- 
prentice seaman in San Diego. , 



"MEN. BOOKS AND THE CONSTI- 
TUTION" 

("Invitation to Learning") 

With Jose Ferrer, Raymond Edward 
Johnson, William Podznow, Ted 
Jewell 

Writei-Dlreelor: Bob Shay oh 
Producer: Leon Levine 
30 Mins.. Sunday, 11:30 a.m. v 
Sustaining V / 

WABC : CBS. New York 

Credit Bob Shayon with one of the 
most fascinating scripts for adult ra- 
dio that's been written ..in. many a 
day. His ' .Men; Books and'the Con- 
stitution" -in the CBS "Education for 
Learning" program on Sunday (.2) 
was brilliant . documentary. It was 
alive, .it was beautifully polished, 
hiim'an, it was imriguing; aiid above 
all a forceful presentation of the evo- 
lution of the Constitution of. the 
United Stales. 

/ This was' no schoolroom dramatiza- 
tion: ", it; never played down, to its 
audience by taking trite, hackneyed 
textbook proverbs and , stringing 
them. t'ogcther as the learned . mouth- 
ings of "Franklin.- Jefferson and their 
creators. Instead; Shayon achieved 
a quality- of varmih and Reality . in 
transporting his audience back to the 
eminent Dr. Franklin's study to listen 
in . as he. '.Teffcrson;- Hamilton and 
Madison sat around .in amiable dis- 
cussion. -There the Fathers of the 
Conslitii t iciii delvtd iiito the books 
of the ages that lined the shelves of 
the good doctor s room to present a 
succession of : interesting revelations 
that pointed up the slow process of 
(•votfltlnti Irfirn Aristolte on, that 
finally culminated, hi the great docti- 
nicnt for );ovn.'Htri(lvt, . ' 
That was .-;-ll, but. the tremendous 



CHARLES ROtERTS 

Direclof of KLZ 
Farni Service 

Roberta )ui8. « W-ivle . 
ji'ml tuyu'l . fut'Ui.Winip 
a nuWK.i. f»16rii<lo'8 pi"««- 
pciouM farm group. 
He . produces ' KI.Z'ji. 
i''ii.nn Sf-rvK-e pro'ifranv' 
Which- en.tiiy« H . flmK 
aim enviable' rn-ord of ', 
aerx'ice, .'-'■ • ■.''■ 




Even Its Farm Programs Rate 
KLZ's Best Production Efforts! 



# KLZ shuns the easy way of programming, 
creating and producing scores of local chows 
-custom built to the needs of the Bock y Mountain 
region, KLZ even spends time and production 
on its Farm Service program, one of which re-r 
ceived top citation at this year's Ohio Institute. 
in every other ''department, 85 In program pro- 
duction, KLZ is doing a top-flight job, which 
includes the production of sales for advertisers. 






DENVER 

CBS* 560 Kc. 

AllihaUd in Management *ilh 're Oklaftoma 
PoMisiiing Cosipany aot! HKY. Oklahoma Cii, 

RoprsseBte d b / 
THE KATZ AGENCY 




so 



ORCHESTRAS— MUSIC 



Wednesday, July 5, 191* 



See New Afro-Cuban Musical Trend 
In Widespread Use After the War 



By EDWARD* PERKINS 

Havana. July 4. 
Chano Pozo, Cuba's ace. ebony 
composer - mrisiciai)' - Stinger - dancer, 
ha V created an: amazing.ne'w trend of 
nriainal Af ro- Cuban music that is 
«weepi«S . this republic via radio 
n isn't clubs ahd iceords and will 
soon have, potent eflect . in the 
United States. Mexico and through- 
owr Latin Amenta, -It's a postwar 
natural. '• ; ':'/..'•■. ... ■. , : 

"While '-'-Of Ca:au San Martin was 
recently ' being elected President, by 
the Auteutico party. Peso became 
the leader, of another group of ' An- 
teiuicos"— • those who "champion .au-. 
thelitis Cuban music. 

It all stems .'irojri .'UMuna .Sa-ngaiiT 
fmvba." an' Afro rumba which Cha::o 



la Playa Orchestra mi all Miguelito- 
Valdes' Victor recordings.' - , . 
• With his radio combo. Pozo has just 
introduced the bongarimba, the hot- 
test rhythm instrument to ever startle 
Havana. It is : a. "-massive- mahogany: 
■creatio n, ' sl i ghtly big ge r t han: a ,'e m iz 
cert grand piano, -with eight complete 
built-ip drums,, ranging, from , the 
bongalita. bongo, quintico and quihtoj: jj^Vor.' '-Variety" 



First Lov* 

Hollywood; July *. 
B. C5. De Sylva, executive pro- 
ducer, is still Buddy D« Sylv*, 
songwriter, at heart. New ditty 
is ''Another Kiss," with De Sylva 
credited as- lyricist and Ted 
Grotiya as Uinesmith. 



POST-INVASION MUSIC 
BIZ UP IN LONDON 

London. Jui'.e 12, 



to the conga, congador, Uimbador and 
bombo. the latter a huge bass drum. 

From the foregoing .list only the 
bongo and conga are well known to 
American musicians, haying been 
popularized by;' Cugyt. Madriguera, 
Morales, Rimae. Machijo. Spcasas and 
others who. feature Latin rhythms 
I with their bands., ... 
/Played .by - h'aivd; :the bongarimba 

- ' produces a full octave of drum tones, 
composed three years ago lor the . ... % - lH „ t!iis W()rk | 
•annual "Cumparsa ..street carnival 



the Cuban 'March Gras.. But right 
....after -Pearl Harbor the •'•Cumparsa" 
' was' put oh ice for the duration.:, and 
the tune was left stranded, save for 
a Victor -recording ..by Miguelito 
Valdes and the. 'Casino, cie la Playa, 
which is now .getting a big play. ■ 

"Muna Sahgaufimba" has: a -weird 
but catchy.melody. okay for vocals 
or tevping. plus a. comedy patter and 
a wham trick ; finale. 

A- lew, weeks ago Pozo dusted off' 
the number, and played itwiih his 
eight, piece, radio combo on their 
.nightly program over the Cadena, 
Azul station. Within a fortnight it 
Was the honey of all the dance bands 
;i:i Havana and beeaine "sabrosa." 
which- is a Cuban way of saying ter- 
ri lie. • ' 

Every now and .then the Vedado 
longliaji's try ■ to suppress Afro music 
on the grounds that it does no.t rep- 
. resent the best iii Cuban tastes, but 
it always bobs up again in the jam- 
packed: bistros of Marianao. where 
the best citizens stay up all night at 
Panchin's or Choricera's to enjoy it. 
It's as . much a' tfaft of., the -Cuban 
scene as rum and sugar. 
' A Tourism Natural 

Afro is hailed as a. boon to future 
tourist trade, for it combines all the 
exciting features Of the rumba and 
conga, which have been standard 
favorites with playboys, convention- 
eers and cruise travelers. 

This new vogue is so pronounced 
that the Cuban Tourist Commission 
is already, huddling over plans to fi- 
nance an Afro-Cuban revue on 
Broadway* next winter, figuring it 
Will build up more postwar tourist 
interest than , the; usual budget de- 
voted. to posters and folders. ; 

Pozo has several published; tunes 
to his credit, including "Rompete." 
"Zarabanda'' and ' "Amparame " . but 
"Muna. Sanganfimba"' is still unpub- 
lished ' 

Traveled .Americans.. Latins and 
Europeans kin-.v him chiefly as Cuba's 
top boiigo player with the Casino de 



Rhythm, fans flock to Cadena Azul 



Music business slumped, some- 
what during the pre-invasion period 
btit better now The 12-yerr-old 
Robert Stoiz waltz, ' Don't Ask Me 
Why"' (your Joe young's lyric' is a'.j 
bullish No 1, and is . heard a» fre- 1 
queiitly among the populace as was 
"If.:! Had My Way" a .few li-.onth.- 
bacic, . It shared the honours with 
Roll Out the Bat ' el when , the 
Army of . Invasion pushed oft' from 
these shores. Rarely does a song 
reach the great national popularity 



Bands at Hotel B. 0/s 

(Presented herewith, as a weekly tabulation, is the estimated covet 
charge business being done by name bands in various New York hotels, 
Dinner business (7-10 p.m.) not rated. Figures after name oj hotel give 
room capacity and couer charge. Larger amount designate* weekend ana 
holiday price. Compilation is based on period from Monday to Saturday.) 

• '•'''..';"■'-.'. ■ ■"••. '" ' '•-. .'' -,-'.:•'.""• Coven Total' 

: '.'■' - Week* l'att C'»ver'i 
Iliiliil Hotel l'l».i'«d Week On Hat* 

Hairy James. ... . Astor (800; $1-$1.50>. ...... . , . . . 6 6.620 37,370 

Lanl Mclntire. ...Lexington (300; 750-^1.50)..,.... ...12-4 > 1,950 226.375 

Tony Pastor'.. ...New Yorker (400; $1-$1.50). .. 8 • ' %2m 16,500 

Glen Gray . '■ . ... . Pennsylvania (500; $1-$1.50). ... i. , . 10'.' - 2,650 . 25^075 

Xavier Cugat ... .Waldorf (550; $2) («' days). 1 3,201 S'20i 

Dean Hudson. ....Lincoln (275; $1-$1.50) ............ . 4 1,000 4,45t> 

".Asterisks indicate a supporting floor show. New Yorker has an ice show. 
Waldorf has iWortoit Downey. Lexington, Hawaiian floor show. - ■ ■. '/ •": 



,'■■': Lot Angeles. 

Freddie Martin (Ambassador; 900: $1-$ 1.50. Closed Thursday on, due 
waiter union strike. ■ T.wo night take. 1.100. ' '.'•■;' 

.ioe Reichmaii ( Bilimore; 900; $1-81.50 11 Getting some of -Grove cVOv 
for grand 4,700 tabs. , : N 



day and night to give the bongarimba. y^. -Mf.i Had My Way." The oddest 
a looksee. And Cliano's half ■:,|'ioui- j thin „. in t |, e ^viM business . right 
program there, is the top audienSE- 1 110w j^. jhe Saga of Lilli Mai-lene 
getter . -Thal lmulein ceUamly gets around! 

Imitators are siyjnied because it I Tunred down by your folks.' she bas 



takes three years to age these drums 
Chano has' a corner on the market?: 
The best drum-makers, submit their 
.wares to h im ft rst. beca lise -he. pays 
the highest prices. He has , a- collec- 
tion of 37 different drums, in addition 
to his bongarimba. .- ■■ ..• 

George Balalichine knows Pozo as 
a bang'up choreograher who pro- 
duced and. starred in the famous 
"Conga Pantera'' ballet at the Tropi- 
cana, swank outdoor, night club, in 
1941. with the Ballet Russe' troupe. 

Set the Pattern '.-•.;■' 
. Ppzo's "Cumparsa" troupes, in 
which: he was the leading dancer, 
were forerunners of the tropical re 



Location Jobs, Not in Hotels 

.•;.'.'•'."•;' .'."'-.'v'.'! ' (Los Angeles) . ' ■ ;,'■.','•'■ 

.'Jimmy Dotsey /Palladium B. Hollywood, third week ). Continued seii- 
sational biz for . third consecutive week with 35.000. payolas. ■.": ; .'.; 

Jan Savitt (Trianon B, Southgale, tourth weel;>. Baton like a magi-: 

-waird. ' Holding- at-87500; * '.. • . - ■ r , ' - ■> — ^ 

•'. Freddie' Slack iSlapsy Maxie's! N. Los Angeles; sixth week i. 
Masters on tap for July, 4'.. Slack closing capacity 5.200, . , V. , 



Franki'e 



nevertheless bobbed up in no less 
than three Arms here in England, 
one of which uit least ' nas flie bless- ! . ... .. • "■■'.'';'-"' ■ ■', .' ' '- : 

ing of ofl'icial sanction. Sales are.' ..':. .. ".:' .;'.':'- ' Chicago -':'. 

quite brisk too. «'hich ) xieorgt Hamilton .Empire Room. Palmer House: 700: .M-S3.50. min.). 

6 , xp . la " 1 ! d .^ y .,^^/^ \- Hamilton and new show, headed by Victor. Borge .helped .weekly tola! },k 

great 10.200. 



Army boy.s all learned the tune in 
North Africa.- Ill this craV.y day, and | 
age almost anything goes.- but, tbe j 



Woody Herman (Panther Room. Sherman hotel; 950: $1.50-$2.50 min.'i. 
Herman keeping figure around excellent 8.000. 



circumstances of this song's rise to ; . ^ ^ arid Marine Roam. Edgewater Beach hotel; 

popularity are swely unique, m the J 4 600 . colnbined; . $1 . SI . 50 : admission to Beach Wa ,k for dancing and sho.r 
history or poputai music. . , 50e and 75c cover charge, plus $1.25; min. in Marine Room). Beach Walk 

More., and . more Ameucau .a.t.sts | ^ yefy popu|ar - ^ ^ ^ clli ,, killg „ p : al . olmrt 10,000,/ •: 



and programs are becom ing popula r 
with "British listeners due' to the 
variety of U. S.-trapscribed broad- 
casts over the BBC —Charlie Me- i 



vue .formula - now show n by the, I Carthy" is a national favorite.. and I 
Katherine Dunham Dancers in " the | think quite a few people. get a little 
United States. kick out of. the association of Ra^- 



The versatile Pozo is also the.guid- 
ing influence of the Nanigos. a so- 
ciety which glorifies ; the' : jianigo. 
bembe. ' santo. diablita and other 



Noble's orchestra With the program. 
Other names, that are becoming 
favorites are Andre Kostelanetz. 
Harrv James and Dinah Shore, w hile 



Bill Snyder (Mayfair Room. Blackstone hotel: 400; $2.50 min. V. Terrifift 
turnover oh GOP , conventionites enabled Snyder and Irene Bordbni to 
play to marvelous 2.700. : /r.'.'.'-'~ * ' >*">*• n • 

Benny; Strong (New- Walnut Room. 'Bismarck hotel:, 465: $1.50-$2.50 ni'rn.t. 
Convention helped here, too, Strong and room attracting (We 4.700. . 



Afro-Cuban dances. These are in the j Bing still "reigns all aloiie, l.ike a j 
voodoo category, and , performances i king on. a throne"! No. reports so 



'.."•'•'.<>.■'? '' ■ : (Chicago ' ' ' : ■ 

Gay Ciaridge (Chez Paree; 650; $3-$3.50 .miniy. ■ ■'Spphie Tucker '.and 
Claridge turned 'em away. All place could hold wiih capaciiy 5.200.; .. 

Carl Raviizza (Blackhawk; 500: $l-$2.50 min.h Ravazza opened strOiid 
Wednes. 128). Around 4.200 covers ,. 



are strictly private.. Btit they are the 
talk of Havana, and harder to crash 
than ••» Broadway stage' premiere. 
Membership is limited, and there is 
a long waiting list. • ■• 



far of anyone— -male or ifemale— 
having swooned at Sinatra, but .then 
it took several years tor Blng to 
] achieve his present, popularity here. 
Mairzy Doats'' became No.'l in 



Other composers 
aboard the Afro 

Arsenio Rodriguez. Fecu.ndo Rivero. I States. 
Francisco Fernandez. Julio Cnevas, ' Love. Love, Love,' 



Harry James'l-Nighfers 
In Trek Back to Coast 



who are getting evitably, but has less "zing" here 
bandwagon are | than U - appeared-, to have ..in the 
Soon we'll see about .''It's 
which is the sort 

Jose Forest and Rodriguez Fift'e. | o£: ditty that usually catches on. ahd 
Arsenio Rodriguez, blind guitarist, the added Latin - America n- : fl a vo'f. will 
has a .new. hit, "Junto at; Bambu." not haim it in any way, for the iu- 
w-hich is ruhiierup to "jMuna-Sangan- 1 terest in that type of music is getting 
nrpba." It is also on records.. but still i much momentum. Hits of the calibre 
unpublished. Rodriguez' "Bruja '| 0 f "Green Eyes." "Besame Mucho." 
Manigua" was a standout several ] "Amapola,": "Nightingale." ' I Came, 
years ago. , • ' 'I Saw, I Conga'd" and ' Brazil", have assignment, likely. "Cabbage* and 

Hermanos Palau Orchestra is. nbwi done much to accomplish this,' ; and | Kings." ' . ... ■ 

the No. 1 dance and recording combo I now the -musicals starring people 
here. They have 22 numbers on Vk> | nke Xavier Cugat are getting around 
tor's June-July release list, against which helps, too. •.■■*•.•.•'.•,',■• 
(Continued on page 32) I Reg Co*ine/iy. 



Harry James and his orchestra are 
on a two-week trek of one-night 
stands- \vest which will take them to 
Hollywood. Band played Atlantic 
City yesterday <4); plays .Wilkes- 
Barre today (5), Rochester (6), 
Allentbwn (7), Hershey (8), Pitts- 
burgh (10), Dayton (11), Cincinnati 
(12i, Akron (13), Chicago (14). ■ \ 

Back oh Coast, James will confer 
with Metro execs on his next film 



Tiny Bradshaw's orchestra booked 
for the week of July 18 at the Or- 
pheum theatre. Los Angeles. 



DUKE*S HORNS^SWIPED, - 
RETURNED IN TORONTO 

Toronto, July 4. 
Duke Ellington's orchestra lost five 
saxes, Ave clarinets and a trumpet: 
here recently, when thieves brok>t 
into, the locker .room, of the. Club . 
Queensway,. but. they 'were mysteri- 
ously returned later, apparently by 
the thief. At the time the horn* 
Were stolen Ellington was forced In 
cancel two performances and play- 
others with borrowed instruments. 

On final night of the run Ellingtons 
manager, Al Calley, got a telephone. 
call telling him the stolen horns 
would be found outside the club'* 
door. They were. 



:....-:..,;...-■-. . ,, . . . 



Learned A Lesson 111 Never Forget 



Words and Music by JOE DAVIS 




ROBBINS MUSIC CORP. • 799 SEVENTH AVE., N.Y. 19 ♦ JERRY JOHNSON, Gen. Prof. Mgr. 



Wednesday, July 5, 1944 



PGrieTy 



ORCHESTRAS— MUSIC 



Songpluggers Millennium: SoIonV 
Extraordinary Pitch for War Song 



One of the most unusual plugs for -f 
8 song was placed in the Congres- 
sional Record as a result of a speech 
»ade by Congressman Thomas D. 
Winter ( Kansas), June. 20. ;- '' 

Said Cong. Winter: "The name of 
this song is 'Let's'Getr Tough,' anel, 
to .my .great surprise, it was written 
by a young mother of two small chil- 
dren, as a protest against the hor- 
rors of war and as a mother's appeal 
to get it over quickly, , . .. We citi- 
zens . of these ■ United States,, espe- 
cially we members of the National 
Congress, have been too easy-going 
in connection with many . .national 
and international problems. We do 
.not: approach them from a 'Let's Get 
Tough' attitude, which is absolutely 
necessary these days in dealing with 
a ■ miirderpus foe abroad and their 
• friends and agents here inthis coiin- 
1ry, where, we have nursed them 
sldn'g with every, civic blessing::' 
: '"Let's Get ..'Tough" was -authored 
by Mrs. Claude Hamilton Jr.. New- 
Vi.i t' shpihy M usic-flf-Delroi t pub- 
lishes. '. - : :• . ' ; ,-.-'".. 



FRANK SINATRA ON BRUMS 

.Philadelphia, July 4. 
... Frank Sinatra is playing the drums 
in the Philadelphia : Orchestra al 
fresco season at Robin Hood Dell: 

it's.not the Tm-rgFi— however, but a 
namesake,: member of the orchestra's 
battery section. ' . 



PHILLY UNION CRACKS 
DOWN ON JAMMING 

; . .:■ '.-'-■' Philadelphia. Jiily 4. 

. . Members of . Local 7,7, Musicians 

i Union, ' fust week were warned 
against participating in jam. sessions 
4\y off icials of the local. ".'''.. • '. ,' 

■ ■: .Jamming has been on the local's 

' tn poo list for .several years Snd'for 
«• long time cu'fl'o looting has. been 
"elmost non-existant in these parts. 
Recently reports have come to 

.i»n fori headquarters; that musicians 
frequenting late spots have been tak- 
ing a hand itY jam sessions. . 

• .''Members caught jamming will be 
<3ealt with severely,"' said Guy Scola. 
local 77 secretary. : -'■ 



Clyde Bellin, trumpet man. back 
Sn Pittsburgh again after- several 
— * ntc>nlhsr~o n roa x i with —Jerry — WrrMv- -brothers— trf-^-marrage rrai- 
end has joined Brad Hunt band, re- 
placing Bill Riggs, who' left for the 
Army last week.- ■ 



Freddie Martin's Orch 
Collects Fay Despite 
Coast Waiters' Walkout 

Hollywood, July 4, 
■Management of the. Ambassador 
hotel expects no settlement of culin- 
ary workers strike until end of the 
week, following walkout of . South- 
ern California Waiters. AssiiVj com- 
posed ' of five AFI, unions, last 
Thursday night. All food -and- .bar 
facilities have been closed down, and 
Ffeddie r MarfiiiV orchestra' is e-xV 
cosed' from: bandstand although not 
on strike. -Latter group: is drawing 
pay because .thel. management-, has 
closed Cocoanut Grove. -. 

Unions, went on strike, charging 
hotel with, failure to comply, with 
WLB grant of wnge increases of 15c 
■per hour effective June; 2, Which 
would have brought, minimums from. 
35 to -50. cents; per houiv ; - : • . ' 



You Ain't Kiddie 

Addison Bailey, longtime ac- 
eompEnist for Eddie Davis, co- 
owner and star of Leon & Ed- ' 
die's <N. Y. nitery), now mnes- 
iros the Army hand with the 
14rh Air Force ill the China- 
Biuma-India zone. Impressed 
-with the manner in which 
"Tokyo Rose," Jap propagandist, 
was getting a radio audience by 
usage. of Benny Goodman, Dor- 
ley brothels and kindred record- , 
jngs, Bailey organizecl'a GI band 
and played for the doughboys in 
person.. ' , - * 

: A flying officer ..with the 14th 
Air Force came back; to the U.S. 
the other day end told Davis 
how Bailey , played through a 
particularly bad Jap strafing,; 
and the commandant wanted to 
know - how-: he. could hear the 
music i.bove the bombs. -Bailey 
replied, "Say, when you work at 
Leon & Eddie's, or any of those 
hot. 52d street, joints, you tan 
hear anything." ' ■ ■';'.,■ •<- 



oots and Stetsons Nosedive As Coast 
Bucolic Bands Lose Oaty Mowings 



Daillard Buys Into 

Dorsey Bros. Dancer y 

Los Angeles, July 4. 
Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, hand 
leaders who. recently bought the 
Casino Gardens Ballroom, sold a on'e- 
fhird intesest to Wayne Daillard. 
owner . of . the Pacific Square Ball- 
room in San, Diego. 

Inclusion of Daillard in the deal is 
designed to relieve t h e Dorsey 
difficulties.' 

New partner has been one of the 
most 'successful' ballroom, operators 
in California. 



Al Donahue Pacts Deal 
With Morris Agcy, MCA 
To Clear Coast Dates 

-.- In order to play the CoasV Al 
Donahue has worked out a deal be- 
tween ■ the William Morris agency 
and Music Corp. of America to' have 
MCA book b:.* orchestra for. a. four- 
month periocL Band is now at the 
Galveston. Texas, Municipal. Pier 
until July 25. After a week of one- 
nightcrs.'it -will, then open, the Ara- 
■gon,.Ballro'<)ro, Oc'csn Park, C$1., Aug, 
2. for a run. '..:'"•.-.".'.' ■'' 

Band didn't .want to come east, 
having spent, too many summers in 
Hie middle; west.' and disliking the 
weather. Group hopes to stay on-the 
Coast 'until after the first of the year, 
then play some theatres in the east. 



Canarutto Quits Metop 

■ Angelo Canarutto has resigned as 
assistant conductor of the Metropoli- 
tan Opera Co, to become musical 
director of the Connecticut Grand 
Opera Co. this fall, :'..''. -'.";' 

Meantime the director will con- 



Ttnet- 



Trend toward western style music 
and bands which gathered strength 
on the Coast two years ago and 
reached a peak early in 1944 is now 
on the decline. Boxolfiee . figures 
for strictly^ -Western outfits ha\e 
tumbled considerably --fjor. the past 
four months, and the tapering off has 
hit other significant 'pots'. Sales of 
Western folios and : j'ecb»'«lings have 
dropped simultaneously, and, even 
Western, outfitters have found the 
clothing vogue miilung diy. 

The beginning of the trend was 
evident shortly aftei the war started, 
when wholesale, emigration .' to the 
Coast from the mid-w est brought a 
sudden dance-date popularity . to sev- 
eral loug-oignniy.eri Western niusi- 
crews w-liich. had gained a following 
through, the medium of .singing cow- 
boy pictures. New found prosperity 
on the part of the "emigrees enabled 
fheni to pay off on a scale never 
possible in their home .states when 
western oiks roamed there, a,nd they 
crowded into ballrooms.and audito- 
riums by the lhous;iiids_4; i '-.; ... ;^ 

Bob Wills and osk fell in for part 
of the quick gravy, oufgrossing most 
'name, bands wherever they played, 
lii the Oakland Civic Auditorium 
they - were able to . beat the, record 
of Harry Jamesby more than $1,000 
with a" .heavy play from shipyard 
Workers at Richmond, most of whom 
had originated in 'Oklahoma and 
neighboring midwest states. . ;- 

Cooley's I.onic Slitnil 
Spade Cooley, too, was heavily fol- 
lowed, appearing for 74 consecutive 
weeks, at Forman Phillip's Venice 
Pier, and assisting in the promo- 
tion of the Western fad that made 
Phillips a millibuaire,';'.:- 

Cooley perhaps saw . the hand- 
writing on the wall, however. Where 
most of the other cowboy outfits ad- 
hered closely to the. Lone, Prairie 
style, Cooley mixed pop tunes in 
with his cowboy - laments and did 
not cater strictly to the ' tmigree 



opus m — L.os Angeles- next 
month for George D'Andria, and in 
San Francisco in September . for 
Gaelano Merola. •■ . 



fected the financial status of the im- 
ported audiences. Indications were 
that they were the first to go, with 
the homeianders and more cosmo- 
politan visitors managing to hold on. 
Then .the fallacy of the supposition 
that the Westerners had started,, .a; 
-fad for . coastal residents- began! »e 
show. With purchasing: power, ctwhi-:- 
dling. in the hands, of many, of their, 
followers, most of the •Western'.; dance; 
halls began to show lartef and 
larger patches of empty' flbdLipiiie, 
Wills' Switcheloo 
Wills, with the largest draw on 
such bands, continued to gross phe- 
nomenally, but. was off sa consider- 
able percentage in contrast io. pre- 
vious. takes, When this became evi-' 
dent, the musicrew set out to re- 
coup by following the reserve path. 
Some of the crowd had even been 
lost by. becoming fans of the sweet 
and, swing : bands playing in ' other 
Coast spots, and were adopting less 
sectional forms Of dress. Will's de.- ; 
cided the time was ripe for a change 
and added 10 pieces to. his band: 
five sax. three trumpets and two 
trombones.: Along with the hypo in 
brass, jump arrangements of pop. 
tunes were made and the baiKl is 
now a" sweet-swing outfit'' using West- 
ern numbers as show, novelties.'. . .., 

Cooley. too, changed over slightly, 
leaning more heavily to. the .stand- 
ards and hops than .previously. As a 
result, both he and Wills are on the 
build again with a balanced audience, 
although Cooley, is still avoiding 
the addition of brass. 

In other spots, bands adhering 
strictly to the Western style are fac- 
ing steadily dwindling audiences,; 
One-night stunts and features, some- 
times manage to drag the stmt 
crowds as formerly, but the biz'does 
not hold up. ... .-'--- -''. ' . -/'■' 

.The taste for music on the Coast 
is definitely on its way to flat-httled 
shoes again. ..... 



crowd: — — .'.-'.. . — 

All went well with the yodeling 
cow.puncher until .wholesale- war 
plant layoffs in recent months af- 



Original Music Publishing Co, Inf., 

chartered to conduct ,a music pup- 
-tishir.g— business— in- N',-_ i^.-t*f).iii4 
stock 200 shares, no par value. Di- 
rectors, Jules J. Edwards, John T. 
Doran and George Adams. • 




THE BELLS OF NORMANDY 



(ARE RINGING AGAIN) 



(with expression}**-- — ^Ij^s^itt---^ 

m 1 j J h r m i 'i i r ; i. j i 

? THE EELLS OF NOR - -MAN - BY :.,»*»*»'.'.' HM-1nr a 




And hearts of Nor - ..tt^n - dy 



ar e sing- ing a - gain . 



A TRULY GREAT BALLAD 

":;: ; ::- ; ^ 

DON REID and IRVING MILLER 

DORSEY BROS. MUSIC, Inc. 



141 9 BROADWAY 



NEW YORK 19. N. Y. 



ORCHESTRAS— MUSIC 



Wednesday, July 5, 1911 



LA. Nitery's Complaint toAFM Over 
Frederick Bros.' Colored Band Deal 



7 Hollywood, July 4. ♦ 

Joe Morris, owner of the Club 
Plantation, has filed a complaint 
with the colored local of the Ameri- 
can Federation of Musicians- against 
Frederick Bros, agency, charging a 
contract violation 

• fttotris alleges he holds a written 
asreement which gave htm the right 
to the exclusive use o£ the Inter- 
national Sweethearts, all-girl sepia 
orch, with' a stipulation they would 
appe.-tr nowhere else in town. cater r 
ins; ty colored trade within 90 days 
after closing at the Plantation. . ■ ' 
, Moiris . who paid band's transpor- 
tation -from: east as part of the 
agreement, charges' the contract 
violated when Frederick Bros, 
twoked the group -.•into the Club 
4t»bam 16 Hays after the Plantation 
closing. The case, is scheduled for 
hearing by the local union trial 
board, and if the Morris claim is up- 
held lie will file suit against -the 
agency for $25,000 damages. . 

Tribute to Russ Composers 

-As a gesture to Russian ''composers, 
' the Russian-American -■ Music Pub- 
lishers, Inc., which recently put out 
a number of Red Army. tunes: with 
English and Russ lyrics, inscribed 
e3eh copy thusly: . ''The publishers, 
appreciative of the. exemplary hero- 
ism of the peoples of the U.S.S.R.. 
deem it a privilege to set aside royal- 
ties in behalf of the Soviet com- 
posers."; • . 

Publishers hope other American 
flin>s will follow suit. .' y . 



Does He Knit? 

Philadelphia, July 4. 

ScUima Kaufman plays a fiddle in 
the Robin Hood Dell Orchestra, Dur- 
ing the regular season he does a 
fiddle stint for the Philadelphia ..Or- 
chestra. ':'.•."''• '.,..-.■ .■ : 

He also promotes conceits at the 
Academy pf Music: acts as an artist 
manager . fqi' a .stable of longhair, m u- 
sicians, writes articles on music for 
the local, papers and national maga- 
zines"and has written several books 
on rviusic. ■;. ■ .". 

Last week Kaufman added an ex- 
tra, chore. He became public rela- 
tions director for Local 77, Ameri- 
can Federation of Musicians, v 



10 Best Sheet Sellers 

(Week Ending July 11 

Swingin' On Star Burke 

I'll Be Seeing You... .Williamson 

Long Ago, Far Away. .Crawford 
I'll Get By. ... . ........ ... .Berlin 

Amor , ....... ..Melodylane 

Goodnight Wherever . . . ..Shapiro 

GI Jive. .Capitol 

San Fernando Valley . . . . .Morris 
Some Day Meet Again. Witmark 
, Time Waits For No One. Remick 



Wedded Bliss Equals Only 
Dirges, He Seeks Divorce 

Detroit, July 4 
. Complaining that he could only 
compose dirges because o/ his un- 
happy home life and that the. world 
today wanted livelier music, William 
Fishwick.:.. 62-year-old theatre arid 
church organist, sued for. a divorce 
His wife, Amelia, retorted she had 
to do all the work because Fishwick 
insisted on saving his hands for com- 
posing and denied she ran the' vac- 
uum cleaner so hard and often he 
couldn't concentrate. 
•' Circuit.' Judge Adolph Marchner 
let Fishwick carry on with the dirges, 
denying his suit for divorce. 



'Hepcats' Storm St. Paul 
CouBcil Chamber To 
Protest Jitterbug Ban 

. Minneapolis, July 4. 

"Hepcats" invaded the St. Paul 
city council office to protest vigor- 
ously against an edict issued by 
Prom ballroom, leading Twin City 
dance hall, banning the more rugged 
fornis of rhlhymle appreciation. It 
wasn't a press agent stunt, eiioer.' •';... 

An exhibition of rug-cutting was 
staged for Mayor . J.-.J, McDonough, 
to convince, him it's perfectly ■proper.. 
There was. no music, but some 
rhythm was obtained by beating, a 
brisk tattoo on a table top with 
knucMes. Council members declined 
invitations to participate in the jit- 
terbug dancing. 

Earl Harding. Prom ballroom man- 
ager, who issued the no-jitterbugging 
rule, says it's a good idea and has 
upped Saturday night attendance be- 
cause 'people found but dancing 
doesn't have to be more rugged than 
running an infantry obstacle course." 



NBC, CBS, Blue, Mutual Plugs 

Following is list oj the most played popuinr tunes on the netitorfcs for the 
tree*; beginning Monday and throiigh Sunday, June 26-Jnly 2. from 5 pjn.. 
to 1 aw. List represents the first approximately 25 leaders tit alphabetical 
order (in some-cases there are ties, accounting ior a longer list). The 
compilations embrace the NBC, CBS, Blue mid Mutual Netieorl;j, as repre- 
sented by WEAF, W.4BC, WJZ and WOR, N. Y., and ore based on daw 
provided by Accurate Reporting Service, regrtlar checking source of On 
music publishing industry. » , . 

'' ;. ':'..-.;';.;-;. ; ^: ,; . : publisher " 

.'. . .' ... ; - , .'. ?.'.//; . Block : : **■''.''."■: 
\ '. ■■;■'.''.".".'.'.. ..' '. . ; . . . . . : . . .Melodylane ' 
"■ .'. : i . ; . /.v. . ■ ) .Shapiro 

■. ... v . .'•. . .Lincoln 



- TITLE . •; ' s 
A Fellow on a Furlough ... ... ,. ............ 

Amor — -"B war Rhythm' , 

An Hour Never Passes ...... ............. 

And So Little Time ........ " . . , 

Come Out Wherever You Are-i "Step Lively' 

Forget-Me-Nots In Your Eyes . . . '•„ 

Goodnight Wherever You Are. .> . .. 
How Blue the Night— v"4 Jills In a J -^p". ; . 
How Many Hearts Have You Brukcn'.' \ .. , 
I Love You— ""Mexican 'Hay ride". . ... 
HI Be Seeing You 



T. B. Harms 
. TriangU 
.Shapiro , 
. Robbins 
.Advanced 
. Chappel! . 
.Williamson 



I'll Get Bv— -;"Guy Named Joe"-.'... . ... ... .. . '.'.. . . .'. .■. '■,;■■[ ;...'• • • ^Berlin 

It Could Happen to You— t' And Angels Sing' r . . , . 
It Had to Be You— t' Show Business": . ... 

In a Moment of Madness— t "2 Sisters and a Sailor"; , 

Kentucky ..... ...... ... ... 

Long Ago and Far Away— v"Cov'fi C'.iil". ;'.■.:,. ■•■ 
Milkman Keep Bottles Quiet— f'B'vvay Rhythm".;.. .... 

Pretty Kitty Blue Eyes . . . ..;,.:.:;>;. '. . •'• ■ t, 

San Fernando Valley.;. . .?. . . . -:• ■:• • • v....< • — 

Someday I'll Meet You Again— t 'Passaae Marseilles" 
Swingin' on a Star— '.'.'Going My Way '. ..,. V ••• • • 

Time Alone. Will Tell— r'Tin Up Girl" . . : . . . .. 

Time Waits For No One— (' Shine Harvest .Moon"i 



Famous. 
Remick . 
Feist ■ .' 
Broadcast 
Craw ford 
Feist 
Santly 
Morris 
Witmark ■ 
BurKe 
Bregman 
Remick 



What a Difference a Day Made. . . .... ............. . ... 'Maiks 



t FilmusicaC * Legit Aliisical. 



Ina Ray Mutton** band set by In- 
terstate, for tour of its Texas houses. 
Currently touring Interstate is D'Ar- 
tega's all-girl orch. 



I' 'Everett Neill, KOKA'. Pittsburgh, 
production man, who recently left 
pianist's ...berth with ■ Al Marsicd 
orch at Nixon Cafe, has organized 
his own outfit and opened with it 
Monday night (-3) at Oasis. Pitt. 



'•;/'. . . A Tiinely Novel I v Niii»t>er ■?'%;:■''■■-/:.'■>■ 

PARIS WILL BE PARIS ONCE AGAIN 

Wonli and Muaic by Jaok Rosenlierg, Paul Cunrtingliam, Ira Schnaler 



WntKi THE 8oy& TAK* 



m 



f 



TAR- IS WILL Be Far.- \s once 



MM 



1 



I 



CL.\rF£ OF 



f *f f 

'Dov er the/'i-u con* ort 




ON- TILL 




J J j B J 



3 



PAR* /xS WILL BE 



TA R - f>5 ONCE A - GA i 




mm 



£V- '&/ 
a;A'M - o' 



I J I i 



"FRENCH - IE* ' WILL, BE 
-Ct-LE FROM ' A R. - —f^ttiV • 



m 



I 



m 



T£fiy V JWHEfV THE K\T>S FROM I - O • WA/ TfcACH *£M 

i-ers. Wii-L. "Theqet To g>ve "Three CflESRS" An'P 5H£'«-t- 



m 



HOW TO feoo - <Sf£ WOO - <3 IE THE F?OE . » WS 



THE CAPS WHOSE Oft i>S -SHE KlSS£P |fV TH06E ?>y - <oONE y£Ai?S 




WHEN THE 



i 



Boys 



TAKE 



WW: 

O - VER. 



i 



i j j 1 1 \i i 



WILL 



f f\R \S WILL BE i:4 OrJCE A- <?Air4. 



i 



vvhe/J the Gfvri. 



Copyrijfci, 1944, by Pa«H- Pioneer Maalc Corp..i«57 Brta^wvy, Sew York City 

vV-^^V ■ ' : . '-h-;. All Material ; Ready . : X X' ; 

FAULI>PIONEER MUSI€ CORP. v ' yyy • 

Mil »«M«w«y MAX. MAXER, JhresMesi ..... Me«.Jt«rk M r SL.X. 



Crosby's 'Bless 'Em 7 Disc 
For Melbourne Fans 

■ Melbourne,. July 4, 
Bing Crosby has made a special 
recordiivg ot "Bless 'Em Alt." English 
tune popular with Australians, with 
new and appropriate lyrics, which 
he is sending to the 3AW Broadcast - 
ing Co. here for performance. 1 '. 

Disc is result of a competition held 
recently on JAW's "Noontimes" pro- 
gram to determine respective popu- 
larity of Crosby and Frank Sinatra 
with Melbourne Jans. Recordings 61 
singers wer e broadcast, with votes 
taken from listeners. Crosby re- 
ceived 6.000 more,votes than Sinatra. 
Crosby fans then banding together 
for a congratulatory cable to the 
singer, despatched through Peter 
Ellis, station announcer. Crosby then 
made the special recording of "Bless 
'Em All" to show his appreciation. 



Afro-Cuban 

Continued from page 3A 

crack Casina 



only 8 by the former 
de la Playa outfit. 

• Terp Tapper* 

Orelia and Pedro. aJumni of th* 
Marianno and Sans Souci, and the 
Cuban Village at the N. Y. World'* 
Fair, are still rated the best rumba 
dance team since Rene & Estella. 
Their "Mula" (shoeing the mild, 
mare), "Bolero Cubano" (glass-of- 
water-on-the-head-routine), "Lav- 
•andera (washboard) and "Jungla" 
set the patterns which all the click 
rumba teams follow. Currently per- 
forming in the U. S., they are due at 
the Hotel Naeional for the winter 
season. '. 

Chacha (plenty hotchai. . 22-year- 
old cafe-au-lait femrrie looker, gets 
the nod from cafe society (Montmar- 
tre. Zombie, Fa raon and Casablanca) 
as the ace nanigo and bembe dancer. 
When she shakes those Jour mat'acas, 
it spells, postwar . paradise in any 
language. • 

Bing Crosby is Cliano ' Pozo's 
Hollywood idol, and' his song de- 
livery parallels the Bing in some 
.ways; Pozo is a devout Catholic, He 
invests most of his income in rare 
custom-made jewelry. Dresses smart,' 
■but not flashy. Only "27 years ,ol' 
Never touches hard liciuor. Launch 
"CHampdla Guar.abana." the coolest 
and most expensive tropical f tuft 
drink in the entire Caribbean; . 

Not interested in Hollywood pix-w 
Broadway night clubs, because he 
will, not travel without his drums, 
and it would take a special plane to' 
carry them all. ■ •.' ." 

In World War I.at Aix-les-Bains, 
the late Jim Europe, the real origin- 
ator of jazz, predicted that, 'teecaus* 
of its pui'e o . melody and hot' rhythm. 
Afro-Cuban lhusic would some day 
spread' throughout the world. Zohi* 
Mitchell, ace drum maestro ir> Ih.i 
Casino d'e Paris' lush heyday, ex- 
pressed the same sentiments. 

C'hano Po/.o is the answer to 'tho^s 
hunches. '■.'". . '•"•.;■'. > 



George Olsen orch opens indefinite 
engagement Friday (7l at- Vogue 
Terrace, Pittsburgh, replacing. Teddy 
Powell, ■ i.:, - •■' 





/■ ' LEO EEI B% In c . 1 s p r dud t o announ c e that : d t ; '; i : s; pub llshiiig S 
by arrangement with ROEBIHS MUSIC CORPORATION 

SWEET AND LOVELY 

' y • Wards end Music -by GUIS -ARNHEtM/HARRTIOKIAS, ond.JVtiS LiMARE. . .. 

Featured by HARRY JAMES AND HIS 
\ M-G-M's Rollicking Four Star **** Movie Smash 'Two Oirfs And A Sai!or"4 

SEIST TOP TUBES from the same picture hit include ... 


.♦ ■ 




IN A MOMENT OF MADNESS 

; Lyric fey RALPH FRtl& ' Mwsic fey JIMMY McHUGW .. 

A LOVE LIKE OURS 

''■■>£yrfe fey "WAMN «OUNfR Music by At IIRTA NliCMOlS 

YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN 

Lyrh fey RALPH FREED- Music fey GIORGI ST OIL. 

MY MOTHER TOLD ME 

lyric by RALPH FREED ■ .' Music fey "JIMMY - MfcHUGH; ;:y :; 

/ Sf /A S~ HARRY IMK^Gmrv. Wtrvf. fltg«v>^ 

mmv ©»>mi : * MED MftllR ^ ; BANK RICK : WHY WHITl / WD WHITF -JACK HARRIS. 
'■- ' IMfywMdi,' Cot Chicoj*, III. ; : tMtfrrv, Wa»v. ; t^«m«^'(P*i^. ; .:;^w«Kl C«y, Me. . : rMWeFpFrw^po, ; 


■ 



34 



ORCHESTRAS— MUSIC 



Wednesday, July 5, 1944 



De Pue Named Sales Mgr. 
Of World Broadcasting 

World Broadcasting System, sub- 
sidiary of /Decca Records, appointed 
C-eorge DePue. formerly with the 
%ead ley-Reed Company, WSAN.'Al- 
-lentown/.Pa., and NBC* as sales man- 
ager of the commercial department. 

Also newly ^appointed. to sales posi-; 
tions in the commercial department 
are Edward Rogers, recently released 
from the; Army and former contact 
man for Les Browne orchestra, and 
Dwane Stewart, Who comes from the 
International Division of NBC. 



Sample's Philly Post 

James Sample has been appointed 
cqfCQilductor of the Philadelphia 
Opera Co. for the 1944-45 season. 
Sample, who was assistant conductor 
of opera at the New York Ciykf Cen-' 
ter this 'season, will share, his new 
post with Ezra Raehlin, former asso- 
ciate conductor of the. Philly organi- 
zation,; ' • 

• Dr, Hans Wolinul, who served" as 
stage director with the. Philadel- 
phiahs. for several seasons, also re- 
turns : next year, having spent . the 
past season in a similar ; capacity at 
the New York Center. 




A 



British Best Sheet Sellers 

(Week Ending June 8, '44 > 
.London, June 8, 
Liili Marlene. . . . ... .Maurice . 

.Mairzy Doats, ... . ... . .F. D, & H. 

Don't Ask Me Why . . . .Connelly 

Don't Know Where Going. . .Gay 
Sending. My Blessings. : ; . . .Gay 
Paper Doll . . . . . . Maurice 

It Can't Be Wrong. . . . .Chappell 

My Heart Tells Me. .:. ..... .Wood . 

Sweet Rosie O'Grady , .Feldman 
Journey to Star., . ..Wood . 

Kiss Me. .Southern ' 

Thinking About Wabash. . Chap'll 



10 Best Sellers on Coin-Machines 

(Records below are grabbing most nickels this week in jukeboxes 
throughout the country as reported by operators to "Variety." Names of 
more than one band or vocalist after the title indicates, in order of popu- 
larity, u*ose recordings are being played. Figures and names in paren. 
Diesis indicate the number o/ uieek» each song -has been in the listings 
and respective publishers.) 

1. I'll Be Seeing You (8) (Williamson) . 

2. Long Ago. Far- Away (3)!_tCrawford). 



3. I'll Get By (?) (Berlin) 



BOB STRONG and His Orchestra 
Currently GLEN ISLAND CASINO, N. Y. 



Record No. 7098 




CAPRICE by the Writer of Intermezzo 
YOU BELONG TO MY HEART 

LOUIS PRIMA and His Orchestra 
STRAND THEATRE, New York, Now 

H&n Record No. 7083 

♦ ROBIN HOOB 
I'LL WALK ALONE 

THE THREE SUNS 
PICADILLY HOTEL, New York, Now 



RCA Reissuing 
118 Band Oldies 



RCA-Victor wiir reissue almost 
mmediately 118 old Victor and 
Bluebird recordings of Benny Good- 
man, Lionel Hampton, Ray Noble, 
Louis Armstrong, Larry Clinton, 
Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington. Artie 
Shaw, Jimmie Lunceford, Tommy 
Dorscy and other, notables: ; ./.;./■ 
Most recordings have been off the 
market from five to 10 years and .are 
Considered collectors' items, ranging 
n price from $3 to $15. Quotas will 
be assigned to distributors, since.the 
issues will be limited. Plans are be- 
ing made to reissue an additional 100 
records of this type in September. 



4. San. Fernando Valley (5) (Morris)., 



( Bing Crosby ...... . ., .Decca 

( Tommy Dorsey . . .' . . .Victor 

( Ilaymes-Forrest Decca 

7 Guy Lombardo-. „, .-r-jT-Deoea 
I Harry James .....Columbia 
( Kittg 'Sisters.. . . ... . . . .Victor 

J Bing Crosby ......... Decca 

( King Sisters ...... .. .Victor 



n Amn ... m (Molodvlanp) J Enric Madriguera . ... \ .. . . .Hit 

o. Amot (l) (Mtlodytane) . . .... . . .,, . .... ^ Andy Russen _ , _ . Capitol 



6. I Love You (8) (Chappel) 




Record No. 7092 

* HOW MANY HEARTS HAVE YOU BROKEN 
T WILIGHT TIME 

ART KASSEL and His Kassels In The Air Orch 
Currently ARAG0N BALLROOM, Chicago 

Record No. 7091 

+ PRETTY KITTY BLUE EYES 

FORGET-ME-NOTS IN YOUR EYES 



EVERY HIT IS ON © RECORDS 




7- GI Jive (1) (Capitol) ...... . 

~8.- Milkman Keep Bottles Quiet (4): (Feist). 
.9. Goodnight Wherever Are (3) (Shapiro) . 
10. Straighten Up. Fly Right (1) 



\ Bing Crosby , . Decca 

( Perry Como . i,i'.. ; .'V.. .'.Victor 

y Johnny Mercer. ... . . .Capitol 

( Louis Jordan . ........ ..Decca 

\ Woody Herman ... .... Decca 

(Ella Mae Morse. .. . .Capitol 

, .Russ Morgan .... .... .Decca 

{ Andrews Sisters. . . ... .Decca 

(King Cole Trio. .... .Capitol 



Band Review 



Friedgut Quits Post At 
N. Y. City Center; Claims 
'Political' Interference 

Harry Friedgut. managing director 
of New York's City Center of Music 
and Drama, Tias resigned as of last 
week (28). No' successor has been 
appointed, although board of direc- 
tors will meet today (5) or tomor- 
row to discuss the matter. 

Differences in temperament be- 
tween manager and various board 
members is believed to be the reason 
■ftn^heT^signaHonr-rnana^i^said-to^-tomers 
be resentful of "politicians" inter- 
fering with his management, board 
resent ing manager's — high-m i n ded" 
methods.. , . y 



CHRIS CROSS ORCH (14) 
With Allan Kaye 
Edison Hotel, N. Y. 

No newcomer to Broadway, hav^ 
ing played at Jack Dempsey's res- 
taurant for a year, Chris Cross' 
orchestra has graduated to the big 
time in its second hotel date. He 
played two weeks at Maria Kramer's 
Roosevelt hostelry in Washington 
prior to this engagement and should 
win a raft of new. followers, in addi- 
tion to attracting old adherents. 

Enlarged to 14 men from the nine 
who formerly composed the group, 
the orch is made up of four sax, 
three trombones, three trumpets, 
piano, drums and bass, with Cross on i 
alto sax and clarinet, and sells a| 
smooth, iistenable brand of music | 
that should find favor with the cus- 



Cleve. Orch. Commissions 
Works by Gould, Still 

Cleveland, July 4. 
Morton Gould and William Grant 
Still, American composers, have 
been commissioned to compose new 
works for the Cleveland Orchestra's 
28th season which opens in Severance 
Hall on Oct. 12 and. 14: ;. 

Another composer, Randall Thomp- 
son, has also received a commission 
to produce a work for the orchestral 



Detroit Civic Opera 

Renames Fitzpatrick 

y.' v . Detroit, July, 4. 

Leo J. Fitzpatrick, vice-president 
and general manager of WJR, has 
been reelected president of the De- 
troit Civic Light. Opera Co. The 
honor follows a successful first sea- 
son in which Detroiters flocked for 
10 weeks to the fight operas and 
left the new civic organization with 
more than $60,000 in the black. y 

Because of the first year's success, 
in which imported stars were used 
in conjunction with local choruses, 
the company plans an extended sea- 
son of 14 weeks this year. 



It's a well-knit group that sticks 
wisely to ballads and original 
rhythm tunes, with sock arrange- 
ments by Cross helping to lift it 
musically above the level of most 
newly-organized outfits. A short- 
coming however, is that there were 
too many vocals and oldies, a fact 
that didn't aid in distinguishing the 
orch. More pop tunes and more solos 
by Cross would help, although when 
caught, he did a deft job in tying the 
aggregation together, 

Cross has a pleasant personality 
that transmits itself to the audience 
but he should display a bit more 
poise and reserve as more in keeping 
with his new surroundings. He has 
Allan Kaye, sax man, who does well 
on ballads and rhythm tunes, but is 
not outstanding, and could use a 
fenime to break up the monotony,, 



Kenny Payton, pianist, gave up 
day time off ice job to turn pro again 
for Sammy Watkins' band at Hotel 
Hollenden's Vogue Room, Cleveland. 



Top Tunes for Your Books 

An All-Time Favorite 

CUBAN 
LOVE SONG 

Music by . . . 
JIMMY McHUGH 

Published by . , 

BOBBINS 




PHIL -REGAN 

(Currently at Hie N. If. Strand) 
mill many other nationally fa- 
mous professionals use this 
VISI'Al. index record of over 
1111) IMPORTANT music, pub- 
lisher* — complete info ..plus 
lead sheet and lyric of chorus 
of old favorites and advance 
r asos. SAMI'IJiS FKEK. 

TUNED EX 

1019 liroudwn'y New Kork it 



Make this a "must hear"— dont miss it! 

Sunday, July 9, 1:30 P. M., EWT, the BLUE 

SAMMY KAYE introduces 

JANIE 

-^^r^ By LEE DAVID 
(From the Warner Brothers Picture, "Janie") 

on the SAMMY KAYE TANGEE SERENADE 



REMICK MUSIC CORP. 

RCA Building, Rockefeller Center, New- York 
JOHNNY WHITE, Professional Manager 



Wednesday, July 5, 1944 



VAUDEVILLE 



35 



fater Follies' 
Flops on Coast 

"Water Follies," aquatic revue, 
folded in San Diego, Gal., last Sun- 
day <2) after several weeks of bad 
business. Management owed the cast 
and chorus large amounts in back 
pay when show folded. American 
Guild of Variety Artists' Boston local 
wired $3,000. whi ch ha d been posted 
as bond for show to partially allevi- 
ate distress of players and provide 
transportation back to Boston, from 
which the show originated; ■'■/. 

Schindman and' Snyder, producers! 
promoted the show in Boston, with 
Jud Gray, Boston restaurateur, re- 
ported as having partially financed. 
AGVA's representatives claim that 
when show started out in Boston the 
$3,000 bond was sufficient to cover 
salaries, but that- producers kept 
building up show and adding per- 
formers. It had been out about 12 
Weeks and in half . of that time had 
run into a siege of bad biz. Salaries 
were not paid in some stands, but 
troupe carried on without making 
complaint to AGVA, figuring, it but 
temporary. -. 

Understood that; when show— hit 
San Diego, $7,000 was thrown in by 
local promoters. It was then learned 
that show was too far in the red. 
Florine Bale, AGVA Coast repre- 
sentative, then stepped in and di- 
verted the nightly receipts to pay off 
some of the indebtedness, but with 
no fresh coin coming from promoters 
or elsewhere it was decided to close. 

Boston local of AGVA stated that 
Gray has promised to liquidate out- 
standing salary claims when per- 
formers get back to the Hup. 



$1,500 San Antonio Cafe Fire 

San Antonio, July 4. 
A fire believed to have started In 
the air-conditioning system , caused 
damage of approximately $1,500 to 
the Tower nitery. 



NOW ENTERTAINING THE BOYS 
IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE 
OF OPERATION'S 




WILLIE SHORE 

Peraoul M an ft nwcit t 

AL HORDE 



HOT SOPHISTICATE 




TIMMIE ROGERS 

Columbus, Ohio, with 
COUNT BASIE 

Material l» fill) Kl l T.lOK 
Mitt.: IV*. MORRIS AUENCT 




■'.- ON THE LAND 
: ON THE SEA 
IN THE AIR 

ART 
BORAN 

Touring down the Erie Canal »'nd llie Iliulsm 
llivei' -npiwaving "Ijtrorc seven million people 
•lillltiat flu entire Fifth Wet Loin drive IS 
master or ceremony of'.the . 

' ■ UNITED STATES 

TREASURY SHOWBOAT 

Also broadcasting Me noted Impersonations on 
tile *it for •: 

GIBBONS ALE 

Dir..- NATIONAL CONCERT ARTIST CORP. 



WARDROBE 
TRUNKS 

Large selection fine, used 
wardrobe trunks, H & M, 
Hartmann, ©shkosh, Belber, 
etc. Completely refinished. 
Reasonably priced. ' 

EXPERT I.L<i(i.\(JK REPAIRISO 

Gordon Luggage 

1314-Slxth Ave., mr. T,8d St., X«w Tork 



Municipality Upheld 

In Denying Cafe OK 

Detroit, July 4. 

Citing a court rule against inter- 
ference with a municipality's opera- 
tion, Circuit Judge Noe, of: Mt, 
Clemens, Mich., refused a court or- 
der by which Blossom Heath, Inc., 
was seeking to compel the Village of 
St. Clair Shores to explain why- it 
had refused the club a license. The 
form^Twalfl^itery^on the Dertoit 
outskirts was purchased .recently by 
a Negro social club. ■'_'< ; 

Following the purchase by the Ne- 
gro group, the village refused to 
issue liquor, food and other licenses 
on the grounds that "an outside 
group" was making the application 
and that "disgrace" had been brought 
on the community in the 
through the operation of Blossom 
Heath. The spot had been shuttered 
because of gambling in the days it 
was getting a big play from. Detroit's 
elite; 

Judge : Noe held that community 
officials were entitled to use their 
discretion in granting licenses, and 
the court could only interfere wheh 
there was a gross abuse of this dis- 
cretionary power. 

The new buyers had sunk more 
than $60,000 in the purchase. : 



Lois Andrews Set 

For Vaudeville Tour 

Lois Andrews, film actress and 
erstwhile spouse of George Jessel, 
has been set for several weeks of 
vaude. 

Miss Andrews will head bill at 
Loew's State, N. Y., July 13, at re- 
ported salary of $1,000, with the 
Earle, Philadelphia, slated for the 
following week at the same figure. 

During interim, Sam Tishman, her 
agent, figures upon setting additional 
vaude and nitery dates. 



Sam Bar dy Freed 

On Assault Rap 

Sam Bardy, vaude and nitery per- 
former, was freed on his own cog- 
nizance last week in N. Y. court of 
special sessions, when arresting offi- 
cer admitted inability to locate Mary 
Fasseo, 65-year-old-pianist, com- 
plainant against Bardy on an assault 
rap dating back to 1935: 

Bardy claimed, and witnesses sub- 
stantiated his statement, that com- 
plainant was under influence of 
liquor on night When she caught 
her heel in subway grating and fell. 
Bardy said he merely offered her 
aid, but she turned on him 
shouted for "help." : , l ; 

Bardy recently submitted finger- 
prints for permission to work in 
N. Y. niteries and was bagged as a 
"fugitive" from justice on the nine- 
year old charge. 



Wessons Forced to Quit 
N Y. Par for Chi Chez 

Wesson Bros., mimics, were com- 
pelled last week to curtail their en- 
gagement at Paramount theatre, 
M.i Y., a week sooner than antici- 
pated to open at the Chez Paree, 
Chicago, tomorrow, 

Wessons had played eight weeks 
and withdrew from show last Friday 
(30), with Arnaut Bros, replacing. 



50 Coast Cafes 
Back to Shows 



Hollywood, July 4. 
Tax slash to 20% : failed to draw 
nitery crowds over the weekend 
though biz was better than usual. 
Operators held that long holiday 
past paused many to leave town, thus 
eliminating many patrons. , 

American Guild of Variety Artists 
reported that 50 niteries which 
lopped off shows here during 30% 
impost returned to former policy, 
and trend seemed to be swinging 
back in favor of live talent again. " 



WILLIAMS SUES B-K FOR 
250G IN DOG'S DEATH 

Chicago, July 4. 
Suit for $250,000 damages was filed 
in Superior Court here last week 
against Balaban & Katz by Bob Wil- 
liams in connection with the death 
of Red Dust, his canine partner, 
while the act was playing the Chi- 
cago theatre last April. . \- 
} Williams described the dog, a 
chowj as "irreplaceable, unique and 
highly trained" which brought • him 
$40,000 a year. Red Dust, he said, ate 
rat poison placed on the Chicago the- 
atre stage during their appearance in 
April and died leaving Williams 
without an act. ' 



L A. Rink Construction 
Awaits Bldg. Priorities 

Hollywood, July 4. - 
Ice ' rink, capable of housing big 
skating productions will be con- 
structed here by Earl Gilmore as 
soon as priorities can be obtained 
on labor and building material. 

Gilmore owns the land on which 
the Gilmore Stadium and the Holly- 
wood Baseball Park are built. Idea 
is to build the rink between the two. 



Orph, J. C, Slates 

Split-Week Vaude 

Orpheum theatre, Jersey City, 
which has been playing five acts of 
vaude on last half weekly, will also 
install same number of acts on first 
half beginning,. July 17. House, 
and i which has been running double fea- 
| tures with acts on last half, Will now 
run solo film with acts on both ends. 

Switch to vaude is occasioned by 
lack of film product. -. 



Special NW USO Unit 



Minneapolis, July 4. 
.A Minneapolis USO-Camp Shows 
unit will "be organized here and sent 
overseas next fall to entertain Minne- 
sota and Northwest service men in 
various war; theatres. ' 

The unit's, organization by the local 
Aquatennial association has been ap- 
proved by USBp The Aquatennial 
association, wflKh stages the local 
annual summer festival, will furnish 
the unit with costumes and all other 
necessary equipment arid produce the 
show, , i ■ 

Marianne Mercer, who will handle 
the production, has been active since 
Pearl Harbor; in producing and stag- 
ing shows at Fort Snelling, local in- 
duction center. Assisting will be 
Norman Pyle, Metro exploiteer. . 



Canada Lee's Unit 

Canada tee, who recently com- 
pleted subway circuit tour in revival 
of "Native Son," has changed his 
mind about touring with it. ■'.;'./' 

Instead, Lee is lining up an all- 
Negro _unit, witjvband a nd seve ra? 
acts, for vaude. Lee had this idea 
previously,, but sidetracked to take 
another (ling at legit., • 



Court Commits Singer 

Leila Kane, 24, vaude and nitery 
singer, was committed to Rockland 1 
State, N. Y., hospital by court of j 
special sessions,' N. Y., last ' week j 
when called up for sentence alter | 
conviction of petty larceny. . She had) 



Saranac Lake 

By Happy Benway 

Saranac Lake N. Y., ^luly 4. 
Lynn Stone author of day-time 
radio serials weekending here, col- 
laborating with Earl Larimore, 
legit actor and writer on series of 
new skits for* radio. • .: : :..'•".;'. : 

Mathea Merryfieid swamped with 
cards of greetings and gifts on 
birthday. Best of all a general im- 
provement report from her medico. 

Dorothy Gallagher and Kathryn 
Johnson visted Marie Gallagher who 
is doing O.K. at the Rogers. -:■;'• 
Emerson Buckley, former member 
of the San Carlo opera, a nev/ ar- 
rival at the Will Rogers. : 

Mrs. Jay C. Flippen and Mrs. 
Tom Diamond came up for the 
Mathea Merryfieid birthday party. 
Violet Farmer took time out from 



previously been sent to Bellevue | the Chicago: convention to visit hus 

hospital for observation pending) band, Cliff, who is showing swell 

Sentence. Commitment was made on ! improvement, at the Rogers. 

psychiatrist's report that defendant [ A. B. Anderson; manager of Pon- 

was suffering from dementia prae- , tiac theatre, Village Trustee and 

„ ox .•'..'".>";" ...(President of the Saranac Lake Boat 

Mi« ir.'n.' hart h(>eii arrested in ' Club boosted the 5th War Bond 
Miss Kane had been anes ea n g yja hjs untiring 

May upon complaint of Harry Har- 1 eflol ; t9 J " 

per, merchant mariner, who accused. Pa J]'ine Russell has been elected 

the entertainer of having stolon $83 i pl . ez 0 f the local. Ladies Bowling 

from him after a night of revelry, League. She is a 100'.!, comeback. 

Conviction followed. ' : I Write to those who are ill. 



'No Appearance Without Clearance 
Is AGVA s Renewed Stand on Cuff os 



American Guild of Variety Artists 
believes it will soon be able to settle 
for all time the question of farming 
out acts and sometimes entire nitery 
floor shows to charity affairs of 
questionable auspices. ' .".* /.".- 

AGVA has bulletined- its member- 
ship with a card reading: "No .ap- 
pearance without a clearance." It 
further informs acts that they may 
only appear at civilian benefits that 
have the blessing of Alan Corelli, 
of Theatre Authority, and that bond 
rallies or other affairs assisting the 
war. effort must be sanctioned by 
the United War Activities Commit- 
tee. On borderline or all other cases 



AGVA, Long Branch 

Spot Talk Terms 

American Guild of Variety Artists 
along with Ben Zdckerman and Al 
Pressman, operators of the new West 
End Casino, Long Branch, N. J., are 
working out an agreement whereby 
the resort nitery will sign a class A 
pact with AGVA next week. - 

Casino will play name bands and 
have a floor show, just a few acts at 
beginning which may be enlarged 
upon later. ; • '■'':'. , 



Chi Riaito Switches To 
Bands, Empress Burley 

•-' '.-:■%. Chicago, J uly 4. 

Riaito ■ theatre, for several years 
Chicago's only Loop burlesque stand, 
will switch to a band policy Sept. T, 
and hurley units will be booked 1 into 
the Empress theatre, beginning the 
same date, as a result of deals set 
here last week by Nate Barger, oper- 
ator of the Riaito. ,'; v .>; 

Plan of the Riaito amounts to a re- 
vival of the former Paul Ash stage 
band policy, used at the Oriental and 
McVickers theatres, with a 14-piece 
house band on the stage fronted by 
a well-known personality. Johnny 
"Scat" Davis has been signed to lead 
the outfit for the first four weeks. 
TBfite of "ftTore acts will be booked to 
fill each week by Charles Hogan, who 
also books the Oriental theatre. 
House is to be completely refur- 
bished. 

Deal for the Empress is for five- 
year joint operation between Barger 
and Van Nomikos on burlesque 
policy. '.';'' ■'-."-. 



Aussie R. C. Drive's Short 

A short made gratis by Fox 
Movietone for the Australian Red 
Cross, was shipped last week for 
distribution through Australia in 
August, when the Aussie Red Cross 
drive is on. Short has Marjorie 
Lawrence, the Met 's Australian- 
born soprano, singing D oro 'hy 
Stewart's "God Bless Australia," 
then appealing for membership in 
the ARC. 

Short was made as a result of 
cable sent six weeks ago by ARC to 
Albert Deane, head of Paramount's 
foreign dept. arid member, of the 
Australian Society, who arranged 
making of film by Movietone. 



performer-members must consult 

agva. •'">' 

AGVA's stand in this direction is 
to offset further embarrassment to 
acts that had been thnid about re- 
fusing the play outside dates sans 
extra compensation. .AGVA has 
now ruled that unless they are com- 
pensated they cannot do so without 
being penalized. Nitery ' operators 
have also been warned that if per- 
formers are sent out on these so- 
called "free dates" they will be held 
responsible by AGVA for the acts' 
extra compensation, : • 

AGVA recently put the. damper on 
a previous dodge by tightening up 
contracts to read that all shows sfnd 
acts contracted for must be played 
exclusively upon premises called for 
by contract. Previously some spots 
which only play two shows nightly 
had signed contracts for the maxi- 
mum 21 shows weekly, and under 
that clause claimed they were with- 
in rights in farming shows out, 
That's been nixed now via the new 
contract, which carries both mini- . 
mum and maximum number of 
shows, all to be played on the same 
premises. ■■■».'■• '.•;■■':'•,-.' '•■•'.'. .'•'".•;- 



CAPPELLA 



AND 



PATRICIA 



After a RECORD-BREAKING 82 
WEEKS in Hollywood . 

TROCADERO 
Held Over "Fiva Timet 

YOURS FO R PUN 



12 Weeka ' 

CLOVER CLUB 
Held Over Six Timet 

EL RANCHO, Laa Vegas 

, EL CORTEZ, Reno 

RETURN ENGAGEMENT AT 
THE CLOVER CLUB; 

Alto Did Two Picture*— "MOON 
OVER LA8 VEGAS" and "THE 
COWBOY AND THE 8ENOR- 
ITA." 



Opening July 6 
ST. REGIS HOTEL 
New York 



Music Corporation of America 



LOEW 

BOOKING 
AGENCY 

eiNiMt fxicunvr ornctt 
LOEW BUILDING ANNEX 

; 160 W. 46th $»., N.Y.C. • IKyent *>7N0 



PSriety 



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BOOKING THE NATIONS LEADING INDEPENDENT 
VAUDEVELIE THEATRES 

EDWARD SHERMAN AGENCY 



NEW YORK 

PARAMOUNT BUILOI 



BEVERLY HILLS. GAL 

CALIFORNIA , 'J AN.! SLOG. 



WtMliirsilay, July S, 1944 



Carmen Jones' 

Continued from pat;* i ' ■■ ■ * 



flr,! iiorikins hf '•Gr.seri Pastures" in 
(*«. 'At Unit time the colored '.'he >vs- 
ii.hiiimw urged that fepres^tat-fees'iii 
then tace bp entitled to cross tha 
NsnonalV ..portals;".; Lowell McUi'tt. 
I h*« editor ot tte-.WashitJStO.n Dii.ly 
Nn -.. espou.ved ttieu- wu.se-. Tft» de- 
\>wod became io. insistent that the 
■i.lf^aW',,final.ly sche.dtfieJ: i Siia-Jav 
tiia' iiioe for the colore t. Thi-i did ivn 
stop ttie aiiitatioti, becaUiS t.htf N<nco 
pt*W.. urijed a boycott o.t. tin*. p.«- 
■ ohii-iace jjs a cOifiDr.miisj on {tie 
quostioii:oi .segregation 

It was reyived a^i- • when Bill' 
Roliinson .au ived with . "TUe. Hot. 
Mikado.* T!i«re \< en; plum Vf picket 
the thi^itre but the stat mada » pet : - 
iOniii .lppeal and ch^citad this, dem - 
onstration. - Ho toid his follow/cu's Itiat 
he made $2,500 a. week si) the mm - 
uai. that he was paid tins sal-ny dt'-e 
o his appeal, to .white .patronage. 
Tlviy called the piclretirt^ oit. .. 

Ai>i>tit a year aso the Tteatcs 
Guild reconm/.fid this disfificiion ju 
pa t l ona no and pa nee I led, the book ii i « 
of Paul Robeson in.'-OtlieUo," Latei, 
AiV^'O ptokeus ihretv 'X ttujg.. around 
Keith's ' theatre 'wtui'i . tlicy . were 
bari.'d from the pi\>miete a'ho.*'iri? ot 
"Abe Lincoln ill IljtuOis"" 
;.' From the. leyal sundpoiht ,th*. fhe- 
atr* is . witliiii. iU rights in the matter 
of seijiei'ation. There are numeruus 
court decisioc.s which Stva the Imk- 
oiTice the riRht to refuse ndtnis^idu 
to iiiyou-e it teels undestral>le. 

Because, it is an. eiectiou year and 
feelings about i ace : disoviminuttoii 
aia lunnmi* hiRh, the .)0.okin»4 ot 
' CarniHU ." Jones" would probably 
create an. incident. It would he iiiag- 
iiiHed info, national importance and 
oerhaps taken up bf': baHih parties, 
who 'ara struggling to ajet the Ne<ro 
vote. 

The booking ottice in Wew Yorli 
will decide the issua. It can sacrntce 
a great amount of good, wilt among 
regular ' patrons by bookirig In a 
.ho- which would cau^c trouble, 
Ther-i is only oh? boxbffice at the 
National theatre and only pus en- 
trance . for the arch'estra and- baV 
conies, dti /Baltimore', at Ford's 
'Negroes- are adiuittid to. the bal.- 



Conies: but they , use a s^paiWraBrrr 
tiauce and do not. cofttacl the or- 
chestra customers.;; tt .is.' understood 
that the Theatre Guild will not book 
••Othello" here ne.Kt . season due to 
this conflict.. .On the preliminary an- 
iiouucelnent of. nest seaspii's attrac- 
tions the Paul Robeson show is tntss- 



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Cabaret Bills 



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CLARK BROS. 

HELD OVER 5TM WEEK 
Lal3n Quarler, PIiHatleljiMa 

PSi-. Mgt: ' FSANK 3EL-MCST 
£001 E SMITH 



Mgt.: 
Dir.: 



Radio's Role 

Otltlliued from page 1 



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v3oniPoowe» .jUn 



Harry Santl-fy, for the past, year :in 
Van - cafe department % GeiieVal 
*W'%: Corp., resiHued Jasr. Friday 
UQt and plans to op*n Jiis oa-iv 
vaude and. cafe t;d.e/tt (woW.Vg agencv- 



preseuta'tioii by CBS as. a series of 
fiaif-hout; or • houi-loiitt progi 
which will- enlist some of. the na- 
tioti's top authors,, historians aiid 
persons who were close to the scene 
Of the Veisiiilles Conteitmce, L-v Ciir- 
ther evidence of the manner in which 
the four major' network.;— and radio 
in goneral-^will project themsetves 
as ,a ..vital force in blueprinting a 
. postwar pattern for. maintenance of 
the peace, social readjustments and 
ecoiiom.ie. stabliity. thus' radio,, it's 
felt, must incvitablv take it's place, its 
the nation's No. 1 mediunv in utilis- 
ing education, based on a. knowledge 
of the facts, to prepare the 'people 

enable them to guide their, destinies 
for a fuller lite. 

.The' CBS •: progrstn.' tentatively 
knoiyu as the Versailles Series/ yFiit 
acquaint the nation's millions with a 
vfi»hv(*iaJr% . dar unifinyi,ioji;„ of.,, ]M*. it 
points of the Versailles Treaty, gi 
iug -the necessary [wliticai back : 
ground, including ['redact:; Wilson's 
trio abroad, and. will probe- 'into the 
reasons that led to. the. complete, col- 
lapse of the Wilsonian ideal. LTnder- 
lyiug the entire series, A'htch ts ten- 
tatively set for an -eight-week pro- 
gramming . period, .is 'the motive -of 
exposing ;he .reasons for ouV . failures 
in the past so that the new. geheta-i 
lion can learn by the mistakes of the 
old. Thus (he keynote wilt be. >'VVe 
can "t lei this happen again." 

Although still in its formative 
siege, the plan includes extensive.- re- 
sea nil by the net work m order to 
fully and truthfully present .alt the 
facts. To authenticate these facts, 
it's planned to bring" ilt high digni- 
taries and authors Well versed in. the 
political lore of the time, 
■ Similarly. ,the Blue networks an- 
nouncement . of its postwar rehabili- 
tation project, plus the, designation 
of :LUey Monroe as Director of Chic 
Affairs as' a liaison between, radio 
and civic groups, to foster a . closer, 
reluiioiiship in- .striving for sdhitioii 
o,f after-iiie-v/ar probieins, is also 
keyed to the new role of radio..':;.. 



Night Club Reviews 



I. Willi f|u»i*i«*r, IV. Y. 

• CHiss Sc Oiuiii, Mary Raye Si Nuldi, 
Dioso Caxtfllo. Curul Kiny, Ma:w«e' 
& Abbmi ■ Daiiters,: Lathrop & Lee, 
Folh- Miller. - Win! • VVohdi, Doug 
Suhmn ' Sextette, Don McG rune's 
Orcli,; Justs Peret Orch;/ Sovys, 
Be m> a Dui"s and Ted' 'Murray; 
••'.Mi;.!./ t>i( Wnlly, Watifier; eoslumeu 
hi) Kuihryn Kitlui. Billy LivimisUme, 
Ben Wallace and Mine. Benhn; $3 
una tJ.iil) iiuiumum. 



Lou, VVa Iters' pew, show at the re- 
decurjleii ..Latin Quarter- is a fast- 
moving nipney's worth lavishly cos- 
Juu'ied and with ' variety for every 
taste. Group ot tested headlines 
is " cleverly, paced, by ensemble 
nun;!,< t's and turns hy accomplished 
.lessiei: lights,. Top honors in. the 
lornu-i -class are rather .evenly 
shaivd bv Cross & Dunn. Mary Raye, 
■i- Naidi, and Diosa Costello, The 
Cross & Dunn and Ra.vc & Naldi acts 
are holdovers from Walters' ill-fated. 
"Take a Bow" Which closed , at Ihe 
SrVJadiiurst on June 24. ., 

Cros:. -i Dunii tied the audience 
up with their original . lyrics deliv- 
ered m then inimitable clicko style. 
Tljetf potpourri' Of upeiatie tunes 
ivith iuti'y words is ott of the most 
eileel ivv : kiddings , of serious, chi ru- 
ing yV-'t tossed at the longhair song 
fanciers, while "Pepsi-Cola." their de- 
serip.l.'Ve analysis of that, gaseous aid 
to iiea' tolerance: provided good hoi 
v.entl.er listening, Mary. Raye .& 
Maldi , amply demonstrate that they 
have i d peers in. l',allroomologv 
(Mis i; one. .team where the male 
part of the diio ably holds up his 
end and. contributes solidly to. pair's 
success. Their turn .v.;:;! doubled by 
audie'ice's demands for encores. 

Dins:. Costello, the South Ameri 
can Bombshell, a billing which/she 
adequately lives UP to; sings and 
cavoi is in her • usual energetic 
PashihtiV Iter. "My jiatiii Is Gone 
Coni|.!elely Manha.f ta n*'; nuniber .is a 
combination' .of siugmg aiid setting 
tit> eKerCises Of a nature inadvisable 
cor oat with high blood pressure or 
a weal- heart. It includes a takeoif 
oil. Betty Hiitton's '-Mulder" .ciiutor- 
tioi-is.— but with embellishments, dic- 
tated by a Latin American, seal. Her 
Scotch accent in the show's closing 
number '. is slrictlyi from Habalia 
which neither adas nor detracts 
from effectiveness of the scene.' y 

Rf >tinder of . the ■■ acts on ■ the 
roster provide the additional dashes 
of this. and. that to sale, the tastes of 
■i-h-e— t-vio*t— ds-mand-i-ii jS— ^t£j-y_jiLLa_. 
tomer. Lovers of the roughhouse 
.Apache dance, are provided, with; 
sufficient;' furniture and. torso man- 
gling by the Mazzone-Abbott. troupe 
to satisfy them for , some time. A 
contrapuntal dancing turn .is con- 
contributed by Carol King. with her 
classic ballet turn. - She's fine fod- 
der for the balletomanes but some- 
IWng with less. of. the classical and 
nipre of ttie modern ballet '■ technique 
would probably have clicked better 
with the Latin Quai let- audiences. 
Latlupp ,% Lee take care of the tap 
terpinc division in workmunlike 
iashio-i while aero (iaucihg. gets a 
ouce-nver from Folie Miller, - 
. Enstinible numbers are lavishly 
costumed and register from a visual 
angle rather than from novelty of 
and ability displayed in the line's 
routines.- - The "You Bring the 
Scotch" routine wh.ch closes the 
shov particularly ptay-i on the eye's 
color perception. Whole adds up to 
an lioiu -aud-a-halt of warming en- 
lertainuient-. House c.ioacitv at din- 
ner' show Friday (ill) i night when 
caught. --' 



Titw. 



I lull Ito villi-. IIH. 

Detroit. June 17. 
Don R^i.goiv Orcfr (9l. Happy F'c!- 
fov. iie.iie Hilda. Cliadwicksi, Doro- 
thy Oorben Duncer^i (Hi, Billetta 
GM^-rii-~Frnhtg~S-fH:itrdwri'^u» 
liny and. hxftid*v cover $1 witl\ reyn 
lar ; $2 in i in' i» -i in. ;• 



Club Royale has emerged from its 
recent fire With a Mayan motif face- 
lifting job by Arthur Yeager with its' 

^^mM^^m'^--,-: tfewr' sub- 
dued hgtiting is llaCTeruig to femrnes 
and changes include a new swankv 
cocktail- lounge in - a. wing which 
tucks -in upward of 400 customers. 
Checks don't come low here, but 
the club is nicely located near De- 
troit s, gold coast and war .workers 
have the gas. 

Current, show may ,not be up to 
par. but it: has its bright soots. 
Ragon's ; band, brought up from 
Louisville, play.s a sound daiice beat 
and an acceptable show, tvhich gets 
oh to a good start with the gdod- 
tookiug Dorben Dancers liiie. and 
they're plenty okay from all angles. 
They open to Gershwin's 'Porgy and 
Bass' cnusic with stroblite striking 
■off a black-and-white quality.- 

Happy Feltoh serves as master of 
ceremonies with.plentv of slow gags 
and several clicko songs.. . The Bil- 
letta Girls, a trio of tumblers, work 
nicely, comeliness and lach of muscle 
bulges making their- acrobatics- more 
surprising. ■ 

Irene Hilda, , with a Paris 'back- 
ground, .works in the chanteuse 
tradition, but her .materia! and 
. method need adapting to riittihes 
Good-voiced and with titie techliiqae 
she seems to work .more to the mike 
than the crowd and didn't catch them 
at the putset. . tier repfrjoive con- 
sists ov. 'The iToiiit Is Jumping Down 



at Carnegie Hail." a Fcen.-u. >„„ ( v. 
with English chorus,. "I'll Be Sfeiha 
.You" and "Great Day." 

Chadwicks ara sock with ecaeetfd 
ballroom numbers full of lifts ani* 
difficult spin's and even the iivtrit,-' 
start' of Felton for a' comedy bit -„ ; 
t' last number didn't dull the ;..,,.„ 
of their work. .; . Poof.. 

.IiM'k LvnrltN, IMilllv 

Philadelphia, lime *17 
: Olir.e White. Foley Miller, Lori-V? 
Rhoda. 3 Sophisticated. Ludie:; :v 
vie Hovler. Dancers ib'iy, WMiJ Roi id - 
Eddie betucca OH'li (.«),; ■Viiiceiii 
Riizo Orcli (4i ; . wt> coner oV'-miii ' 
duwers, »> mi tip.. - . ■ V . 

With .suinm..'r slock and !tfi% }i- 
kicking dejifs; ■in iiiteyv;'- hi< (.,.,(." 
Jack .Lynch has tightened ua on his' 
show budget. But despite iyrk (l f 
marquee names., the current tdio'.v Is 
nice entertainment; . 

Bill is almosi 100-, femnie (>>r- 
cept for magacian W-ally Rand, Mis- 
tress ,of Ceremonies Olive While 
statuesque red-head, doubles on the - 
clarinet and violin and handles pilot 
chores like a veteran • ; . - 

Foley Miller, taps aitist, is easv 
to. . look at as welt;as > finished ' 
terper. graceful, in her acrobatics. 

Lorene Rhoda, .a siotit gal,, grad- 
uated from Lyuch's eoektajl . (ouugf. 
to handle: the vocal eud 'of the . bill 
Miss Rhoda has a . rich voice'. a i id" hus - 
learned , the art of . song-sellutp 
When caught she registered nicelv 
with "Melancholy Baby," "I'll Be 
Seein' You" and "Long Ago." She 
seems to be a natural for radio. - 

The ;l Sophisticated Ladies realli; 
knock themselves out hi a rough- 
house- routine, \vliicli .make the Kit' 
Brothers look . like, panty ivaiots. : 
Gals slug each other aiou'nd like 
stevedores on i pav night. But it's 
all in good— if not clean— fun. 

Wally Rand's magi . act is novct.'' 
highlighted by the amazing, things 
the guy does with balloons: Rove- 
lei- dances ara nicely routined and 
costumed. , 

Music is provided in usual .caoabie. 
manner by Eddie QeLuca's aggregaa.... 
tion for danciicOutd r^h.lw accom- 
paniment, with RizTO's". tr'oupij com- .- 
ing up as; reinforcement in the lulls. 

Biz only fair when -caughf <Frf- . 
day supper). Shut 

I N, Y. Mitery Followup | 

♦ H U tt t < H A*>« «m^t» f ..' 

Xavier Cugat's svel'a Latin tempos : 
are the current welcome-back to the 
Waldorf's- Starlight Roof for -only.Li - 
month, and- he's packih ,'em in. it's ' 
an amazing commentary, now- that • 
Cugat has never' deviated front his".' 
aim to project the rhythms. And 
w hile thu straight dansapa.tors were . 
the big boft' b.o. names foi- inauv a ; . 
.season, and Cugie remained the '-'.a.l- 
ternating" band, he's - -certainly right; 
up there -today -and -has -been the past' 
few seasons: In fact.. Cugat's • iuHu- 
ence pa\ed the way for an independ- 
ent cycle of Latiii baud stylists. 
None, however, approaches him,' 
judging by his present aggregation,'," 
which alternates between .picture 
house dates, the smart hotels and 
an annual excursion to' the Metro 
studios. Also billed are the Her- 
manns Williams, trio, the two 
brotl'ers, aided by .the femme, hav- 
ing one of the. top novelties .with .: 
their Argentine pampas getups for . 
their unusual acrobatics. The Gar- • 
eias, heralded as "the' youngest 
rhumba team" (being in their teelwii, 
do - ok Cuban terps. ' Manna is . a '; 
versatile songstress, opening witti . ' 
"Russia I.+ Her Name," thence. "Stilt 
of the Night.',' a "Carmen" excerpt 
and a "Merry Widow" potpourri. 

Abel 



.iftr"'ftlrristeiriiem-'s- strtnt— a-t--t+ie^ 
Hotel Astor Roof of "a double-feature 
band draw (following Harry James I 
is smart showmanship, hi Tommy • 
Tuckei and Louis Prinia he h.a.s a 
good combo. Tuckeo. vvit.h his H men., 
femme vocal trio and male sqloisi. is, 
.siiioo.t.heixand.;Lo,u.is;p.rii'na. wiiti his 
torrid brass, equaiK'-'divTded Tn'liis." 
18-man combination (plus femine. 
vocalist) makes the. joint . jump. 
Prima- Is on a bicycle between dou - 
bling at. the Strand where; incident- 
ally, Tucker is next slated follow- 
ing the five-vveek .stay- at the Astor 
Roof. Two-for-o.ne Iiand idoa is ■» 
departure, ; making' for a singier. i(iir 
pact than the couveutional alter'iaf- 
mg Latin or string, fombinations. , 
',' ' ,--.'-.- : : : .Abel ■ 



Hannah Wittiums lex-Mrs,' .).»';'•; 
Dempseyt, continuing her comeback 
at the .Harlequin restaurant, an cant 
side spot, still retains much of the 
rhythmic quality that •distinguished 
her singing iu'iiuisical. comedy in the 
"JOs. But she had better : learn -one 
thing— forget about those provrtca -, 
live nuances at the mike. fhdt. too, 
went out with the ... '30 s. Miss Wil- 
liams would do best if " she assayed ; 
the. conservative tvpe of warbtiiig. its 
manifested when she sings "Long 
Ago," instead of the hotehs sturT 'that- 
she too frequeully atle'mpfs' bennv 
an audience that, at this spot., is in- 
clined to- go niore tor subduct 1 
rhythms. Only other act on the hit' 
is Fisher and White, two-man satiri- 
cal singing team, They work hard, 
but their, material needs a -going: 
cuvfeiv • KitUM. 



Wednesday, July 5, 1944 



Inside Stuff-legit 

Stagehands in Broadway legit houses were to hava received retroactive 
pay on the basis of the Regional War Labor Board decision which re- 
cently granted a 12% increase as of Feb. 1, 4% of which wu to be in lieu 
of vacations. Order to withhold the retroactive coin was sent managers 
by the League of New York Theatres at the last minute, when lawyers 
examined the WLB verdict and found an apparently contradicting para- 
graph. .': ; " ■ ; -' V*. 

Only department heads. are involved by the confusing itipulatioh, but 
it held up payment to. all, also the start of the weekly boosted scales. 
Paragraph in question is said to read that heads who were continuously 
employed for 46 weeks were not to get compensation lh lieu of vacations. 
That was taken to mean_ that the 4% was not payable,, and so it delayed 

the whole retroactive pay schedules. Therefore, for the second time WLB I be actually barred from" their thea" 



Shuberts J 

Continued from paf« 1 ' l 

"official," although ,fce was just 
about to leave for the Coast. 

Garland was informed that if he 
came to first nights, he'd have to sit 
in the back part of the house. The 
critic replied that maybe the 
Shubert, shows would look better to 
him from such location. 

Indicated that the. cr. tie would re- 
ceive poor seats from the Shuberts. 
Shuberts did riot say tha t he w ould 



has been asked to clarify the order. 



Paul Robeson's contract With the Theatre Guild for appearances In 
"Othello," which closed a record N. V-. run last week, 37 weeks, for a 
revival of the Shakespearean classic; at the Shubert, N, Y„ is more metic- 
ulous than first reported. .- < ■ ■_">. 

Colored star's agreement is that if he detects segregation of Negroes - 
in any part, of the theatre, he can walk off the stage. Robeson opined 
that the story in "Variety" last week may have indicated that house man- 
agers out of town might group tickets sold to Negroes, so he stated that 
there is to be no segregation under his contract. ,;/'..; 

Show packed 'em in for the final week at the Shubert, gross being around 
$24,500. ■■•r: . '■ ■■'.:,.:.;: " f - J ';V ■ 



• It cost • Ralph Steinberg more money to back the beer-hiss-the-villain 
meller, "Broken- Hearts on Broadway," in an east side upstairs joint than 
he originally figured. The disc maker established his turkey as "stock" 
with Equity/ rules of that outfit requiring at least two different plays in 
order for stock salary minimums to apply. . 

Show closed'-after-two-weelcs-and therefore-was recVassified-as-^produc- 
tion" by Equity, which meant that instead of a $46 per week minimum the 
players got at least $57.50. Two weekend and a midnight performance 
were given, so the actors. got two-eighths extra pay for each, or one*fourth 
of a week's coin more than their contractual salary. 



Manuel Barbera, who did the Argentine translation of Catherine Turney 
and Jerry Horwin's "My Dear Children" (John Barrymore'i last play) 
reports that the. Buenos Aires engagement ran 173 performances, ending 
June 16, and grossed: almost 200,000 Arg. . pesos, or around . $75,000. Said 
to top Arsenic' and Old ace," "The Women" and "Tobacco Road," three 
previous highs as regards U. S. hits transplanted to B. A.. Company now 
touring LaPlata, Rosario and Montevideo until July 31 and may return 
to B. A. Meantime Horwin, on the Coast, is working on the screenplay 
of "George White's Scandals" for RKO. . .;; ! '".;.'! 



Army Capt. Shepard Traube, who landed on both feet, by producing 
"Angel Street" (Golden, N. Y.), says that contrary to reports Judith Evelyn 
Will probably resume her part in the imported meller when It takes to the 
road, possibly next season. She was recently replaced by Viola Keats for 
the Broadway run.. , ■ v - . 

Traube says that it's also possible that his meal ticket will be on Broad- 
way during the season of 1945-46. Show is in its 135th week. 



Lou Walters, whose vaudeville revue, "Take a Bow," folded after a week 
and a half at the Broadhurst, N. Y., where it drew only fairish notices, 
" reveals - fhe~s~how~cdst $1^00-"to-prodTtce, — Rereipts-to1sleTr-$-r8;060-^or-the- 
■ engagement. '",• / '.''■ ' • •'■ ,'•'".'• '-•■;■, 

Walters, who produced "Artists and Models," another short-lived revue, 
last season, plans a Willie Howard musical for the fall entitled "Hail 
Columbia," with Guy Bolton writing the book, 



George S. Kaufman, who was announced to stage "The Late George 
Apley," will also collaborate in dramatizing the John P. Marquard story. 
It" will have been the first time in three years for Kaufman's name on; a 
program as an author, H's last previous collaboration was with Edna 
Ferber in "The Land Is Bright," which played the Music Box, N. Y., for 
a limited stay, after opening in November, 1941. 



Additional June birthdays celebrated last week included those of Paul 
DullzeH of Equity, a close runner-up to John Golden as a legit vet. 
Golden's general manager, John Pollock, also chalked up another year 
during the past month. .."'....'-■'- 

. Golden did a .fadeout on his natal day and m'issed a congratulatory tele- 
phone call from Eleanor Roosevelt. ^ 



Contracting to go into the Mike Todd-Mae West show, "Catherine Was 
Great," Philip Huston continues his Unique record of not being out of work 
for 244 weeks. Actor, whose last Broadway appearance was in "Othello," 
which closed Saturday (1), has appeared steadily in 30 plays in N. Y., on 
the road or in summer stock. 

Frederick Lonsdale's "The Last of Mrs. Cheney" was revived In London 
about three weeks ago and, according to private advices, it should score 
another, run. When the play Was originally presented over there it ran 
for two years. It was also a hit over here, one of, the comparatively few 
English comedies which have clicked on Broadway. 



Edition Ryan, Broadway actor, 
debuts as director, staging "The Male 
Animal-' for the Bucks County Play- 
house, Philadelphia, week of July 10. 



Equity Council OK's 
Dullzell As AAA Aide 



Meyer Davis' legit hits pursue him. or vice versa, judging by his current 
stay in Frisco where "Tomorrow the World" is current and "Merry Widow" 
opens July 10. Davis owns a piece of both. Meantime he's casting the 
Coast company of "Wallflower" which Warners bought, WB may lend 
him some people for the Coast tour. '-.(.' ':■ ■ 

'BERNADETTE' TO GET 
WASH. LEGIT TEST 

Washington, July 4. 

Catholic University will put on the 
first performances of "Song of Ber- 
nadette" as a play this-summer„With 
the full approval of author Franz 
Werfel, the author team of Jean and 
Walter Kerr, of the" CU faculty 
dramatized the book. : 
■ University also plans to revive 
Eugene O'Neiirs "Ah, Wilderness" 
in early July. "Sing Out, Sweet 
Land." the CU musical, will be tried 
out by La.wrence Langner at . his 
Westport, Conn., theatre before the 
new season starts. On these perform- 
ances the Theatre Guild will decide 
whether to "do is professionally. ; 

"Bernadette,". if it catches on as 
Play, will be running in opposition 
to the 20th-Fox: screen version, due 
for general release next season. ' : ' 



tres, because under a state law no 
person with; tickets of admission can 
be denied entrance, so Garland 
could buy tickets, if they were not 
issued to him gratis. The court test 
was started by an upstater who was 
barred several seasons ago from see- 
ing "Panama Hattie"- at the 46th 
Street theatre, ,N, Y,,, and ' : .the 
plaintiff was awarded $500 from 
the house. Shubert name did not 



Critic*' Come-Uppance 

Broadwayites were inclined to 
giggle when word was passed 
around that the Shuberts had 
barred Robert Garland,, drama 
critic of the N. Y. Journal- 
American, because of his adverse 
notice on "Ten Little Indians," 
new mystery meller at the 
Broadhurst,^; One showman said: 
"Why, you haven't come of age 
until being barred by the Shu- 

berts. v . ;.' 

George Jean Nathan, however, 
has been covering the theatre 
for 35 years and, despite his col- 
orful flair for writing what he 
thinks of shows, he's always . 
there on the aisle; cuffo, of 
course. •'. ■>'>; 



Producers Demand Right to Hire 
New Aides, Balking ATAM Contract 



LEE SHUBERT BUYS 



♦ The revised basic agreement be- 
lt weeri the League of New York The- ■ 
'atres and the Association of The- 
atrical Agents and Managers has 



50% OF COAST CLICK b 

Los .^hgeles, July, 4. supposed that all points at issue had 



appear in the papers but their 
lawyers were known to have forced 
the issue. '■-./',;'' 

Leonard Lyons' Campaign 

That case stemmed from another 
barring matter by the Shuberts, who 
objected to the comments of 
Leonard Lyons, columnist but not 
the critic for the N, Y. Post. Lyons 
is credited with getting an assem- 
blyman to introduce a bill in the 
N. Y. state legislature prohibiting 

inaiu^ers-__from -keeping. any_one_ 

with tickets- from theatres, unless 
for disorderly conduct. •""'':■ 

Shuberts have been waging con- 
tests with the press for years arid 
the only time they won was in the 
case of. the late Alexander Wooll- 
cott, who was then critic of the 
N. Y. Times. Right of the managers 
to "cancel" a ticket was upheld in 
court but later that decision j^jis 
upset. "Variety" is supposed to 
have been barred from Shubert the- 
atres for around 20 years but this 
paper covers first nights regardless. 

No. other managers except the 
Shuberts have warred so consistent- 
ly with the newspapers. They ob- 
jected to Walter Winchell because of 
a notice, and the columnist-critic 
spoofed the Shuberts by attending 
at least one first night disguised 
with a beard! Among those they 
picked on was George Holland, Bos- 
ton columrfist-critic who is still 
supposed to be in the doghouse. 
Last year J. J. Shubert was in- 
censed Over a Washington, D. C, no- 
tice of a musical he presented and 
demanded that the critic be barred. 
He was politely told by the National 
theatre manager that the house was 
not controlled by the Shuberts, so 
his protest sputtered out. 



—-New- operetta, "Song of Norway..",, 
which played to capacity for three 
weeks here and is now doing three 
weeks in Sari Francisco, will open on 
Broadway in September. 

Lee Shubert, after seeing Satur- 
day's (1) final performance of "Song 
of Norway." . at the Philharmonic, 
met with Ed Lester and Homer Cur- 
ran, . co-owners of the show, yester- 
day '<!$)' and' made arrangements. ■ to 
buy 50% interest in the attraction. 
Co-owners, prior to Shubert's. ar- 
rival, had set $175,000 outright- for 
the stage rights, ypl us 50% of •profits. 
However, it is understood that Shu- 
bert is paying between $50,000-$75,- 
000 for half interest. Final papers 
will be signed this week, according 
to Shu^rt/'^Kow^ttrteir-TrTS?!! 
Francisco run this week. ";.:.•' ,- 

Same executive personnel, headea 



been JrjDned__out_ai. Jeast one pro- 
vision must be negotiated before 
the contract will be accepted by both 
sides. Point in question is that of 
"new blood," which the union de- 
clares is out entirely^ making ATAM 
virtually a rlosed shop. League says 
it did not agree to such an arrange- 
ment, v J''-V I'l.y' ■ ' : ■. 

Producers want leeway in the 
stringent membership requirements, . 
similar to provision in the original 
basic pact. If a producer selected a 
new or non -member of ATAM whom 
he considered invaluable to bis staff, 
the union would then have to admit 
that individual to membership, with- 
out a three-year apprenticeship. Last 
year a couple of producers placed 
new press agents on their staffs in. 
that manner. Newcomers had news- 
paper experience." 

ATAM contends that its appren- 
ticeship system is ample provision 
by Lester as producer, will head the ''for "new blood" in the union, though 
setup for the eastern premiere, with j virtually restricted to publicity 
likelihood that some Broadway people. Rule is that a press agent 
names will be put in cast, atjestiga- may hire a newcomer as apprentice 
tion of Shubert. to give the show but latter is not eligible for ATAM 
Broadway prestige. Shubert remains membership until having worked in 
here for another 10 days before re- |ihat capacity for at least three sea- 



turning east, ' likely visiting San 
Francisco for another gander at the 
show."- .'•';'.' 

Lee Shubert had tha inside track 
on the bidding- but other Broadway, 
bankrollers. in addition to west 
coast backers, have offered to finance 
the show in the east. With the op- 
eretta clicking on the Coast, coin 
was a secondary, consideration with 
Lester, who was more concerned 
about a theatre in New York. The 
Shuberts, of course, control most of 
the N. Y. theatres. 

Picture rights to the play will npt 
be sold until the musical authors, 
Robert Wright arid George Forrest, 
'gHa^h^rKKik'-^thOTr-lVHltorr^aza-- 
urs, give the word. They want 

"Norway" to achieve a Broadway , a. Brady was one of several 
run before turning it over to the' . .. . . 

studios. . - 



sons of 20 weeks each. 

League people say such a strict 
formula is not acceptable, contend- 
ing that producers continue to have 
the right to engage "exceptional" 
people occasionally rather than be 
forced to use available ATAM'ers 
who are, in their judgment, less 
preferable. 



Brady Nixed Radio 
Offer for Playhouse 

^—J^OMdEb^^ 

Sale of the Playhouse, N. Y., by 



Marlowe in Chi Turtle' 

Hugh -Marlowe, wilj/do the Elliott 
Nugent role in the "Chicago com- 
pany of "Voice of the Turtle," op- 
posite K. T. Stevens (Sam Wood's 
daughter). 

Margaret Sullavan, who created 
the. Broadway role, incidentally is 
mentioned as tiring of the part and 
plans a Christmas getaway. 



Hayward's 'Corner' Play 

Leland Hayward, the agent, has a 
piece of "Children's Corner^" new 
play by Patricia Coleman which 
Guthrie McClintic may do. Miss 
Coleman, newcomer playwright, au- 
thored "Magnolia" for Jack Kirk- 
land a couple of seasons back. ' 

Hayward^ besides having a piece 
of "Voice of the Turtle," in which 
his wife, Margaret Sullavan, is 
starred, is also in with Lindsay * 
Crouse on the Hudson theatre buy. 



Paul Dullzell, executive secretary 

of Equity, has been granted permis- 
sion by Equity council to serve as 
arbitrator with American Arbitra- 
tion Assn. He will serve on arbitra- 
tions arising from show biz contro- 
versies. Pe-rrnission of Equity coun- 
cil was necessary before he could 
accept appointment with the AAA. 

Council also authorized Equity to 
purchase $25,000 worth of Fifth War 
Loan bonds, which would bring 
Equity's war bond holdings to $175,- 
000, and also authorized Chorus 
Equity to purchase $10,000 of same 
issue, which would bring its quota to 
$65,000.. 



Producers Unalarmed by Edict 
From WMC on Drafting of Labor 



Monty Wpolley will repeat his 
Broadway role in "The Man Who 
Came to Dinner" for the Bucks 
County Playhouse, Philadelphia, this 
summer, date as. yet not set.. :}' 



Broadway producers are not ap- 
prehensive that the War Manpower 

Commission will vitally affect cast- 
ing of next season's attractions. New 
labor regulations, which became ef- 
fective Saturday (1), classifies non- 
essential or "less essential" indus- 
tries, the Commission and Its zone 
representatives being empowered -to 
divert persons between the ages of 
18 and 45 to war work. 

Anna M.- Rosenberg, regional WMC 
director for New York, has indicated 
the amusement and entertainment 
field will likely be affected. If so 



bond campaigns. Were it not for 
actors there would have been very 
few individual War Bonds sold at the 
numberless rallies, civilians nearly 
always failing to deliver the clincher. 

At a recent USO-Camp Shows re- 
port it was revealed that over 300 
name players from the stage, Holly- 
wood and radio have been and are 
entertaining fighting riien based here 
and overseas without compensation. 
Only the actual expense of those 
professionals is paid, and in some in- 
stances the actors insisted on paying 
their own way entirely. There are, 
too, many entertainment. units on the 



theatre realty deals consummated or 
pending as of last week. Playhouse 
will continue to book legiters 
though three _pi the" six houses on \ 
48th- street have or will become radio - 
studios'. Currenlly_flie Longacre antT^ 
Rite are in broadcasting use and it 
is likely the Vanderbilt will again be 
similarly devoted. Due to continue 
with stage plays are the 48th Street 
and Cort, in addition to the Play- 
house. 

Day before the latter theatre was 
sold Brady received an offer to lease 
it for radio. New owner is a group . 
Headed by Harry Fromkes, who is 
president of the City Title Insurance 
Co. and who is said to have an in- 
tense interest in show business. 
Brady owned the property free and 
clear and is reported receiving more 
than $325,000, the Fromkes interests 
having arranged for a mortgage of 
$230,000. House was built in 1911 by ' 
E. Clarence- Jones_and_Brady at a 
reputed cost of $400,000. When Jones 
died Brady bought his interest from 
the widow, Marjorie, formerly wed 
to songwriter Henry Blossom and 
now married to an Englishman. A. 
O. (Bert)' Brown represented Jones 
at the Playhouse for many years. 

Brady has no intention of retiring 
and. will produce, now having a 
"nest egg" from the sale o f the Play- 
house. He is seeking a play for "hits " " 
wife, Grace George, and would like 
also to produce a farce or melo- 
drama should the proper scripts' turn 
up. Vet showman also has an ar- 
rangement with Fromkes to act in an 
advisory capacity and each has, the 
right to buy . in on each other's at- 
tractions. 

Reported over the weekend that 
the 48th Street is back in the hands - 
of the Joe Leblang estate, per Wil- ' 
Ham F. Jasie, * attorney-husband of 
the ticket man's widow. There has 
been_ involved deals concerning that 
property, currently tenanted by MV- 
ehael Todd's "Pick -Up Girl." Todd 
was reported buying the theatre, but 
appears to be occupying it under a 
sub-rental from Harry Oshrin, who 



casting of plays and pictures, would move, and while those pros receive j had it under lease! Latter's deal with 



be virtually impossible, but it is just 
as -likely that the WMC would seek 
labor from: stage and studio techni- 
cians rather than player talent. 

In show circles it is known that 
Washington fully recognizes the 
value of professional entertainers, as 
such, in the war effort, for their 
work at' or near, the fighting fronts, 
in the camps, base hospitals and 



modest pay. they must endure hard- iTodd called for the payment of $100 

ships they ordinarily wouldn't . have | weekly, which .Oshrin turned over; 
tp undergo, , ., to a third party and which is sub- 



Alicia Markova and Anton Dot in 
will make their first appearance * : s 
a team outside the Ballet Theatre 
wheri they dunce at Robin Hood Dell. 
Philadelphia, with the Philadelphia 
Orchci.tra, July 10. • ' ;'. 



ject to a pending court action. The 
48th Street has a-, mortgage of 
S-300.00C held by the Bank For Sav- 
'riiiS : which wes reoorted about to 
.foreclose 'but Jasie exorcised the 
' rifjht to buy in . for a .return take- 
over, according to reports. 



B way Spotty ; 'Hals' Soars to Top, 
ToDies' 25G> Indians' Likely 11 G 



First haljtjast \Viefc. Mtv: improve- 
ment an Broadway,' puisieals gcitog 
strong si(n6tvfS viSLtbi-s.- Also, aiding 
was fact It was byc.-week for "Ok. 
lah.mia.''' no ticket's being allotted the 
agencies. Sharp tapering dur- 
ing last half tor most grosses. Early 
this week the number of ■ holiday 
weekenders . was" oft', the. outdoors 
set tins the crowds. -Warning from 



the. Office, of Defense Transportation 
dnubtlesslv kept people out of the 
metropolis, and Mayor. La Guardta's 
radi ( > 'warning not to travel didn't 
holo eithei, , 

'•Huts OiT; to .Tee" joined the-btg-, 
«ione» shows and- is credited with 
betfei than S44.000, nothing" on 
Broad wav lopning that figure; with 
the possible exception of "Mexican 
*Hn-rid«." "Ice'' has three. extra per- 
i'.ir'm-'tiiees this week, and Monday's 
matinee was reported a sellout: hi 
advance.. Sudden -.^Closings are on 
way. two such being "Over 21." i 
which was a ino'ns the comedies tig- j. 
ured ' having a good change to stick 
through summer and "For Keeps'." 
"Three Is a Family" is flfialling this 
week, too, so is "Ramshackle Tnti "" 
■ Estimates' fair Last Week : ; 
K-siis: C (Comedy), D (Drama), 
CO (Comedu-Dicintn), R (Revuei. 
M (1! (isicaii. O (Oparetui).. -;. 

"Ansel Street," Golden (134th 
week > . (D-789; $3,601. Management 
v.illlceep English: rhetl.er in town as 
l.mg as profitable: not making much 
V»w.,.l>ut that's expected; $3,500- esti- 
mai-*;' ,':'■ ..■■■ 

.."Carmen Jones." Broadway (31st 
week! (CD-I ,900: $3.1. One of sea- 
son's outsianders Continues to net 
excellent pi'QJlls weekly; $28,000. 

••thicken Every Sunday ,"' Ply- 
mouth .(13th weSki. (C -1.075: $3.60'. 
intention is to play into fall; moder- 
ate-gross laugher around $8,000. , - . ■ ■ 
"Follow the Girls." 44th Street 
Ciat'h week I .(M-1.46S; $4,80 i. . Looks 
.set for long run and night business 
at standee oruporlions; rated around. 
S3S.5I)0, : really big in this house. 

"For Keeps," Miller (CD-940; 
^(Hr-Ftii-ai-a-BoVt-htel w ee k ;, m axije. 
$5,000 not nearly enough. 

"Hats Oft to Ice." Center (2d week) 
( R-:t.433: SIM ). Got oil' to fine start 
and Stock of matinees through holi- 
day will send new skating revue to 
fHiYcy figures: topped $44,000. quoted', 
tirsl full week. 

"H*len Goes to Troy," Akin (10th 
week i (6-1.357; $4.80 >. Hasn't, been 
doing as well as earlier .indicated; 
around even break: $22,000; „ 

•Mafooowslu' and the Colonel," 
Beck (Kith week! (C-1,214; S3.60 >. 
Business off far -several weeks but 
among best straight-play grossurs: 
Sgirred' around $18,000 last week: 
'••Kiss and Tell." Biltmore (COth 
week) (C-920: !$3,G0V No exception 
to rule for long -stayers: gross down 
to around' $7,000, ; > . - 

"Lite With Father," Empire (243d 
' week) (C-l.882: s:{.fH) >. Broadway's 
run leader said to be turning oper- 
ating" profit right along, estimated at 
around SI 1,000. 

"Mexican lluyride." Winter Gar- 
den .' C22d - week i (M : 1^23! $0 > 
. Jumnct' to great' start' ia'sf week and 
standee biz until: . weekend, with 
gross, claimed, again around. $44,000. 

"Oklahoma." St. '. James, HJ5th 
tveek f .cM-i'MO; '$4.8p'). There's still' 
a line at boxoffic*: nearly all the time 
tor the .sock musical favorite and the 
gross goes to $,"30,000 regularly;, only 
run show' not oil' last week. . 

"One Tom-ti of Venus." 46th Street 
(39th week' (M-1.319; $4.80). Ahead 
first pail of the week but, dropped 
m"st of, the- pickup thereafter: $;',l.- 
500.' -".■,- '--',''.": 

. ."Oyer, 21," Music Box iC-l.OOl; 
-, $3.il0 '. Final aVfrl ."2i , tf(*~'*v(;e 5r* w5-s' 
expected to stick into' fail but 
dropped under $9,000- last week: 
Ruth Go felon w.a n ! s • vnca i i oi \ a n.rt re- 
opens with .show-in Chicago late in. 
Augt-sl .": • - - " . ■ ■. v - 
■' "Wck-Cp Girl," 48th Street (8th 
.neak) ( D-90!); $:i.(i(l t. Expected hi 
span summer: .getting results trom. 
promotional activity; $8,500 claimed/ 
••Hamshackle Inn.'' Royale (CD- 
997; $3:001.. Final and 27th week; 
has been- ' slumping: down around 
'$3,000".-. 

"Ten Little Indians." Broadluirst 
< 1st week i ( D-1.118; ,S3.(i0 ). Drew 
mixed notices but must, were -favor.- 
oble; hikings eslim ited nearly $11,- 
000. promising for first seven times, 

"The Itniisligiiis," Lvccutri- ' <79tli 
weo 1 ; i (C-9H3: $3.00 '. ;■ VVas . slightly 
better first half of -week but tapered 
iateiv' as did most others;, around- 
$8,000: .last weeks announced. ".'■ 

"I'he Seaichinq Wind." Fulton 
(12th week' lC-948: «i4.20>. One of 
best slraiglil-))l:iv luoncn ■ getters; 
somewhat nil' , but ' expected to'.- re* 
cmrer during' motilli; .over $18,000 
li'd'ca'ted. . . .;' 

"The Voire nf the Tintle."Morosco 
(C-893; $4.2l*» VtPiittontiig . at'ter 
pla.v trig.' 2:1 ireeks : to . e'abacity; box- 
Oftiee open.: s.rongest straight play, 
candidate for -r.cx: se:iso"'s cntvtiuu- 
ance; f.V.ve.!age tiot tat' £vt.>>n' $i22,0(lt) 
wee': I . 

"Ttie Two. Mrs: X'airoMsl" Booth 



(D -7 12: $3.00 t. Also laying off after 
48 weeks; another shoSr likely to ex- 
tend . through tali: average - .over 
$14,000'. . - . ..-.- :. 

• "A Is a Family," Bejasco (C-1,007; 
$3):: Final and (ilst week: has done 
very well; slid under " $0,000 mark; 
wiii , play neighborhood houses and 
tours ill tall. ' 

"WalinoWer." Cort (24th ' week ' 
(D-1.0RI: $3.(10'. Slipped to $.">.O0O. 
hardly sn c\ en break. .. 

"Ziesfeld Follies," Imoerial (fiatli 
week I (R-J.427: $4.80 ). Another long 
stayer figured to go through- sumnhev: 
was ahead until Tate, last week; 
around $25 000 

_NKIGIIBORHOOl> 

"Tomorrow the World," .Flatbush, 
Brookl it. . ' 

'Mlecision." Queensboro. L, 1. 
"Arienie and Old Laee," Windsor. 

Bronx.. .' : ,'-.:".' ', ' : .-;■'- ■:•.""-.."•'. 



'Family* Average 

$8,500 in Boston 

''' . Boston, July 4. ' 

After the biggest Monday night in 
eight, weeks,! "Three's a Family" fell 
back to its average .gross of $8,500 
for the frame ended Saturday. Four 
weeks, added to : engagement while 
ail other ; Hub legit houses' . are 
shuttered. 

Cambridge, summer theatre did 
fair, despite a scorching u:eek. with 
$3,000 chalked tip for Claire Luce in 
'•■Anna Ghrtstk'." Julie r Haydon 
opened . Monday in VGttest Jii_jhc_ 
House.:' ■ . - - - - )- 



'Norway'Wow 
in L A. 



'/Son;; 
busimrss 



Plays on Broadway 



T4*n Iii«ilnn« 

"Mmr*. Sl'iilwrt-'sitt'l AlB*it f'oui'vlil* 
pt-ijiliu'tion of titurlrtf luyjtrtjy In llitf* itets 
l» . awnMt liy A«ith* t'hrlntl*. i 8(»e«l by 
<U Cnnrvlllf : -Mtllnj, Ho.wmiT Buy, Oj'Wifit 
HI HlTOi<Hutr*t-,..'N:' r,, ,tiin« .27, '445 »'.).*) 
|V>l>'.'(M,S(j opsnlnii tilstiti. 



At Jtftjtrt'rH. ..... ...... 

J-'rrtil rj*fi>l l 

Vein ■ ClH>'"!'llilKii«. . . :, .. 
i'liitlp' JJ>liil)»)tl , 
Aiitlitmy Mai'tttmn. .'.'A.ti 
W'llHn tii tthy . . . '. . . . . 

(; .Vhri'-l;,Mi y.i*. 

KriilH ttii-iit 

.j>ri' JihwjWk'-* .XV u <i r. 



IV 



SI I 



^.N^il.'Flty.RCntl.l 
. Mtoftfn Hii rvey 
l'alitpk O'Citlnnr 
. ;('l»iiaiil' kfom'M'n 
. ;)|li.-lia>l WliiiliMl 

t\- Knutil** ><-'miper 
...). IMI tt',Mnlli>y 
. ,;. . N.li'iit>|ii> ,liw' 
"Kul-Mly,' Wtnvirw.V) 

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II d ii' W.il ltl 



ill 



Transit Snags 
For Next Season 



Some road shows will have traits-, 
porlation difficulty next season, but 
whether touring ' outfits generally 
witl have more trouble making 
jumps than last season is not clearly 
indicated.- .. . : ,i " 

. The Illinois ■Central and Southern' 
Railroad has notified managers that 
il doesn't intend to carry productions 
and will provide no baggage cars. 
Showmen intend contacting the Of- 
fice of Defense Transportation to in- 
struct the -lines, to accommodate road 
shows. ..'.:■'•''.:.•',: -v-.'.": ■:'.'■'. ■■';-■■• 

Part of the south and the Missis- 
sippi valley, extending from, but not 
including. Chicago, to. New Orleans 
will be affected if 'the two roads do 
hot revise their regulations. St. 
4VrOi4s—wi4l— pot—be-^tn 1 1 off berause, 
Ihere.are several lines, to that; stand,' 
while Texas territory will be okay, 
being serviced % the Santa Fe. 

If there is no additional transpor- 
tation curtailment, only a few at- 
tractions may be forced to cancel 
bookings. In one instance the man- 
ager will •send two men in- advance, 
one on 'house, and press, the other 
concenlrating on railroading. Show 
.will also carry substitute - scenery 
with the company in the form of 
dyed drops - to be used hi case,the 
regular production fails to arrive of 
is denied transportation.. . ,'"■'; 



Loc Anneles, July, ♦',-' 
Norway" made show 
tory ; at the Philharhionic 
itere l ist weok-b\ iinaling. with $130.- 
300 gross for live three week run. 
Operetta's premiere showing out-: 
flanked ' "Lady in the. Dark." ...which' 
played here last season tor a similar' 
run at the same house, by $300 and, 
more, surprising; ' atf a'-lpwer price 
scale. Filial iyeek i'or "Norway" was 
marked by selling seats on every- 
thing but the stage and: the take hit 
$44,800, $1,500 over capacity. Wednes- 
day matinee smashed ajl daytime 
local records by cutting $4,415.62 at 
R2.70 top. Replacing "Norway:', this 
week is "Sally." 

Ken Mun-av's "Blackouts of 1944" 
at El Capital! drew $14.1)00 at ca- 
pacity for start of its third year. 
"The. Family Carnovsky" closed ; a 
tivo-week fun at the Biltmore with 
$10,000. and "Good Night Ladies" 
bowed, on stage Monday night to a 
typical, Hollywood , premiere audi- 
ence. - . . 

Owing to Gladys George's" illness. 
"Persoiial Apiiea ranee" at the Mayan 
had to shutter, for four nights, but 
five performances on Sunday. Friday 
and' Saturday of last, week took in 
$4,900. "Night Must Fall" at the 
Mhsart was near capacity at $3,200 
for the third stan/.a and 'growing 
sales point, to $3,300 for "trie present 
period. - . 



lit Deck' $4,200 

In St. Loo Opener 



'Abie'_ Fin ds C. Too 
Hot, 2d Wk. $7,200 

Washington. July 4: 
; "Abie's Irish Rose" ran into hot 
weather. (. for three days the tempera- 
ture : soared to,the.90's ' and in eight 
performances of the second week 
grossed $7,200 at the National. The 
original four-week booking Will, be 
whittled to three, the play depart- 
ing on July 8. 

There may be several dark weeks 
before the E street house relights. 
"Kiss and Tell" is booked for a fort-' 
night's engagement on July 31 '. Other 
summer attractions are scheduled to 
(ill up the- month of August.' Regular 
season will ooen September 11 with 
Terence Rattigau's "While the Sun 
Shines." followed by Ruth Gordon 
in "Journey to a Star." Ilka Chase's 
play, "In Bed They Cry." is a late 
October booking. 



The association of nursery rhymes 
and homicide is a rather -paradoxical 
Actional:-.' contrivance, but Agatha 
Christie apparently knows her way 
around; In "Ten Little Indians'' Mrs. 
Christie is, perhaps, not at her best 
in murder mystery writing, but she 
certainly has imparted enough siis- 
penseful momeiits to insiue a suc- 
cessful Broadway run.- ■'-.;'' 

The Shuberts and Albert de Coiir- 
ville are associated in making this 
Broadway presentation, an adapta- 
tion from Mrs'. Christie's successful 
novel, "And Then There Were None,", 
a\ title under which the play has also 
enjoyed a commensurate London suc- 
cess. There is much that is absurd 
and obvious iii "Indians." but there 
is no denying its. dramatic moments, 
heightened by the fact that within 
the comparatively brief span of three 
acts no less than- eight murders are 
committed. And there would be 10 
If the nursery .rhyme could have 
been fully realized, - ,.- ... 

This is a 'melodrama whose mur- 
ders follow the : pattern' laid down by 
the. verse of the nursery rhyme. "And 
Then There Wei e None." Ten per- 
sons are gathered together on an 
English isle and they are each ac- 
cused, through a suddenly blaring 
phonograph, of "murder!" There is- 
the religious fanatic who had driven 
a young girt to suicide because she 
had sinned: there was the dissolute 
playboy whose penchant for racing 
cars hid once resulted in the death 
of two children whom he had run 
down. And. so on. ; , 

Then follows the series of murders. 
Linked to them are 10 little Indian 
figures on the mantel, and as eacli 
guest dies -one of the figures disap- 
pears or falls ffoiri its resting place: 
At the play'.s conclusion, however, 
two, of the guests are .still alive as 
the murderer, in a cliiiiactic moment, 
n-e^eai s-rmnwlf-fl ndHSi4n-4.m 



which (Jestrpy th.i force: of . •■i:v 
tragedy, just as. there , are bit; 
hokum that vitiate the rich hum .. ^ 
in characterisation and dialog .v .:,- ; 
which the play is lilted.. 

The play's: chief appeal lie's.in 
performers, a uuitorml.y- taiehi;'; 
group, that imbues' the ..play . '•-ii i' 
more life and color than if inheff-iu'lv- 
contains. Some of the players "have- 
had Broadway experience.: aithiiu^ t 
nio.st have .had their •ictivities rv- 
strided to matetir Negro theatrieafi- , 

The leadT Hilda Mioses Sininiv is ,i 
real find, a light-skinned healft. Vl;h-- 
a vivid stage ' preserttse. a ri.it a ma' i 
Ability to 'dramatize. 'Her .coney, it 
of the harlot's role is hard n"H 
feallstic. rather than seirtnnehi ij: 
with enough Warmth: to make it ,vd- 
pcalitig. . Moat ,o( .the . family- .;> .•- 
traits are almost as vi Viil,. especial!-, 
that of AH ni Clufdress as the rathe •, 
Alberta Perkins, the niolher; Beiiv- 
Hayn'es, the sister, and Fred 0':Vc,.!. 
the- brother-in-law, . Alice Childress' 
streetwalker role and Lionel .M-.nu- 
gus as a bartender are also tine 
- Harry Wiigstaff Grililiie's directio-i 
has much to do with the play's ;1 i,- 
and vitality .. Bra.i 




St. Louis. July 4. ' 
"Hit the Deck." Vincent Yoitoians 
musical, has been revived this week 
for seven nights in the Municipal 
Theatre • Assn.'s al fresco playhouse 
in Forest Park, and it got off to a 
flying .start last night (Monday*. 

Battny breezes .brought out an open- 1 Ce let) rat ions of — -BnTnti iiun Day 
iijg night mob of 1 1.000, with gross | here hurt M d-ge Evans iii Shaw's 
estimated at $4,200. "Arms and the Man" for a so-so 

-Victor Herbert's. "Eileen" grabbed | S5, 100. with Royal ..Alexandra- 11.525) 
plenty of posies from the crix and scaled at $1.50 top. . '. 
wound up its one-week stand Sat- Miss Evans holds over for "Mr. 
urday (It with swell $47:500. land Mrs. North." 



Madge Evans-'Arnis' 

$5,100 in Toronto 

Toronto, July 4. 

CeletiratioTs 



to leave the play's romantic pair free 
for the inevitable clinch. • ' 

At that there is/never any doubt 
that Michael Whalen and Claudia 
Morgan will be. Wared. Miss Morgan 
is very fetching in green: Whalen is 
a handsome lead. There's; the answer. 
This is a production featured' by its 
cast. Halli well Hobbes underplays 
properly. Miss Morgan looks a 'little 
less sylphlike than normally, but her 
performance is beyond reproach. .1. 
Pat O'Mal.ley. Anthony Kemble 
Cooper, Nicholas Joy, Estellc Win- 
wood and Harry Worth are among 
the notable supporting players who 
make this play the success that it 
should be. Whalen's performance is 
the play's weak spot. He's inclined 
to overact. ■,•''.. 

Albert de Courville's staging paced 
the perfprmatica. well, and the single 
setting by Howard Bay is,4lg to the 
tatter's usually line standal'd'/ 

" Knhn. . 



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Current Road Shows 

(July J-l.-.l 
"A Gnose for the. Gander," Black- 
stone. Chicago 7-11. 

Vt'allierine Was Great," Forrest, 

phiia.\ •. ' :, ;; •. •-.:,:;■ ■•-.- 

"Earlv to Bed." Shubeit, New 
Haven. 1:'. 14-l.i. 

,"»fJo»d N'isht Ladies." Cass, De- 
troit. Mich; ';•■ 

"Gu»d Night ladies" (2d Co.'. 
Biltmore, Los Angeles.. - 

".ianie,". Mayfair, Portland. Ore.. 
ti-12>l:i: Metropolitan, Seattle, 
Wa,sii.. 14-i,) . - ' . 

"Kiss ami Tell" (2d Co.V. - Harris. 
Chicago,: v '.-'. ' ■-•'.' * .- '•' '■ 

"Kiss and Tell Cid Co.i, Sliubert- 
Lai'ayctte. Detroit- 

'•Oklahoma ' Vid\ Co.), Erlangef, 
Chicago. : ■ •'■-.' ' . ..;:.' ; .: 

"Three's a Family" (2d Co.), Co- 
tot'.'Utl, Boston. . 

"Toawirrou the World!' Geary. San 
Ff.MV'sc't). ■''■' .' ".'• -. .'• 



■ - -Chicago. July 4. 
. Heat v/ave took its toll at Several 
boxolTice's last week. Only shows 
not.: suffering were ' Oklahoma," 
which continued to sell out .at the 
Erlanger to another' $30,000. arid 
"School for Brides." which hit $10,500 
at the • little refrigerated Civic. 
"Uncle Harry." in a house, cooled 
only by wall fans, dropped to $7,500; 
"Kiss and Tell" skidded to $9,500 and 
business was off at the Civic Opera 
House for "New Moon." second of 
Hie slimmer operetta series, which 
took $20,000 

! ;' Estimates fur J.ast Week : 
"Kiss and Tell." Harris (60th week) 

(1.000;- $3 '. Skidded to $9,500. 
'New Mftoh;**. Civic Opera House 

(2r.i week) (3.000; $2.50f Business 

down but' nuking a little coin at 

$20,000. 

"Oklahoma." Erlanger (33rd week) 

(1.500: $4.20 i. Sellout S30.000. ' 

. "Sciiool for Brides." Civic (50th 

week' (90(1: S3 >. Picked up to hit- 

$10,500, 

"Uncle Harry." Great Northern 
<9lh -week i- (l,40i): $3 V~ Dropped to 
$7,500. . <■■■•■. 



This American Negro Theatre pro- 
duction, put ori iii- the tiny non-air- 
conditiohed basement 1 of a Harlem 
library by a group of actors busy at 
regular non-theatflcal jobs during the 
day. has excited the admiration of 
N. Y. drama critics atid the interest 
of several Broadway producers. The- 
o r ig In a t foitr-nights-a-week- ru.n 
scheduled to dose July 1 has been 
extended to July J5, 'and there is 
talk of a Broadway production with 
the original cast next month. 

•As experimental theatre. In the 
intimacy of the Harlem basement, 
the production is first-rale.- The play 
is exciting melodrama, done with 
vigor and. force,' exuding vitality 
through ; Its performance.. But - as 
Broadway fare it won't do, the faults 
of plot and structure overbalancing 
its vivid chai jcterizations. 

The. story concerns a harlot, driven 
from homa by a. stern father, who- 
has the chance to redeem herself by 
marrying a clean-cut youngster, btit 
who throws away her Opportunity 
knowing that the experiment won't 
work. The plot is worked out in the 
melodramatic pattern of the girl's 
family taking: her back, not to re- 
habilitate her but, to enrich them- 
selves with thi money the boyfriend 
possesses, There » re ether olot fla ws 



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Kii-if j.i#r<r»K . v ■ 

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Until . . . . : ,-. . - 



Cleveland. Jiiiiff 2'1 

fnl^w nfiis (lini»t» ft«M».fie^l 
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Gretchen Damrosch Finletier, may 
have a successful play when "Brief 
Holiday" is staged oti Bniadway -riant." 
season by Jacques Tilery. Although 
much work remains to be don» ;>n the 
show, .'"particularly .the' first act, it's 
entertaining, - 

The theme- of the show is based an 
two ' triaiigle.s. In order to present 
the ramifications of th« plot, Mrs. 
Fin letter was forced to inaka herttrst 



act long "aiul" hi— soma- p<}inli--diiU. 
When she attempts to spark the act, 
her attempts become . labored and 
difficult. These are points, however, 
which can be overcome,'.'; > v. 

The plot revolves about a middle- 
aged wife, played exceptionally well 
by Dorothy Paxtoti. who forms au 
emotional attachment for a Germau 
refugee who is brought to the sum-, 
met; cottage home of the family by 
her husband, an unimaginative hus- 
band who is. content to allow his 
vyife to solve all household problems. 
One problem is the family's wedded 
daughter who has grown tired of 
keeping house tor her husband, a 
Navy officer, and her child, in favor 
of a Washington syndicated column- 
ist.', '- ; .- .-•!.' '-.-' . 

The plot, fealty fakM on Iif<* wtiett 
the daughter, planning to lea va that, 
night with her lightweight journal- 
istic friend, discover-s her mother 
and . the refugee kissing. She is so; 
thoroughly shocked by liar mother, 
who has always been, most proper 
and exact, that she postpones lief 
desire to flee tha family lieartfi to. 
solve her mother's problems instead, 
Tt all wpi'hs u trti- thaiiks to the keen 
.insight ' . of , the ■'. refugee', played 
superbly by Rolf Eugelhatdt. 

The contras'l. in characters and the 
double triangle in one family is an 
unusual combination and :the pro- 
dtielion has a sufficient load of 
humor to give it the, makings of i» 
"hit. The other characters include * 
jflultery Billie Burkeish grandinother, 
two younger meinbers of the house- 
'>roic!.' -s-idit.rtfiinirc ^cntt -sorr,~-tKr&»- iwi^V" 
PM inclinations, nij .a maid." • .:; ' . 
;.,'.. '-: .•.<„■;/'.-';, -,,: '; :.: : ;..; Wirkevs. 



Current *London Shows 

Loudon, July 4/ 

. "Last nf Summer," 'Pttoetltjc,; . 
''''•Arsenic.'* Old Lane," St.ra.dif.. 
All Star Variety, Palladium. 
"Alice in Wonderland," Seala. 
"Blithe Spirit." Diichess, 

— "OanciiiK Yeais." Ade'lpiit. 
"G'nite Ladies." Whitefi.tiU, :;'■■' 
"Gypsy : Princess." Savilla.: '",'':-. 
"Ilow're They at Home." Apoll* 
"Ideal Husband." ■'. Westmmst«f. .. 

. •"Mr».:',Cheyney,'' S.avaiy.': *'.-':' 
"I.ilae Domiiio." MajestyJ. 
"Lisbon Story." Hippbdram*. 
•"Love Kacket." Pritrftes.;. >'-■: 
"Meet Me, Victoria." Vic Pj'> -» 
•"Mr. Bolfry." Plaviiouie. 
"Old-C'llelsea." Winter G,niie \. •.; 
"Pink String." Duke of Yjvk's 
"Quaker Girl," Coliseum. 

. "Quiet Weekend," Wyridba'r.f .:• 
. "Soldier Xmas." Vatidevilte. 
"Something lxr Air." P»t»c«.- 
"Sweeter. Lower," A!»i'l)a js;k',- ■• ■'-' 
"I'ncle Harry,'' Garritk. ' :• 
"While Sun Shines," Gl.' i*. 



Wednesday, July 5. 1944 



39 




Fanny Holtzman,. attorney, to the 

Coast .' - - • _„ 

Georgie Tapps signed for USO- 
Camp Shows domestic circuit, start- 
lilg July 17. •:] " 

Beatrice Kaufman operated on at 
Doctors- Hospital, Jamjiition_rej^rted 
satisfactory. 

Eddie Garr will be co-producer' of 
» Coast "Arsenic and Old Lace" with 
Henry Sharpe. 

Phyllis Stewart, Barney Josephson 
<1 iscovsry, spotted in Warners' "Hol- 
hwood Canteen." . 

Max Milder, Warner Bros, manag- 
ing director' in Great Britain, has 
returned to London. v:'-. 

Hugh Huber, general manager Ha! 
Roach studios, in N. Y from Coast 
on biz trip and vacation. 

Cy Howard, radio scripter and 
-actor, has authored a new musicom-' 
tdy which George Abbott is read- 
■ iilg; - •'■'"' '- : ••• '." 

Peggy Phillips and Frank Good-, 
■man have entered their ballet-play, j 
'•Mark Twain" in Theatre' Guild's 
contest 

Sol A. Schwartz, general manager 
-lor—R KO s out - o f- t own theatres, . on: 
(our of circuit houses in middiewest 
' for 'next 10 -days. ;■'- .';': 

Royal Alexandra, Toronto, sum- 
mer stock will do the unusual, play- 
ing "Hamlet," week of July 17, with 
Tom Rutherford in title part. 

Mae West had specially designed 
costume to rehearse "Catherine Was 
Qreat" to be "in the atmosphere." 
Show opens Friday < 7) in Philly. 

Ted Hammcrstein doubling ber 
tween duties as stage manager of 
"Oklahoma" (St James) and legit 
talent booker at USO-Camp Shows. 

Lieut. Bob Rubin. Jr., son of the 
Loew's. , Inc.. exec, who saw service 
in France and England, is in Wash- 
ington -awaiting" another assignment,' 

Jean Weidman, eastern ed of Pro- 
ducers' Reading Co.. joins William 
Cagney Productions this week as as- 
sistant to Peggy Bleakley, story edi- 
tor.- ... 

Jack Yorfee will be company man- 
ager of "Oklahoma." St. James, 
while Max Meyers is on vacation, 
but will be back with "Othello," on 
(out'. . 1 i ' 

Edythe ("Stretch") Brown. Chi 
mimic just returned from Middle 



Leads will be played by Barbara 
Scully and Arthur Maxwell. 

Betty Jane Watson took over the* 
role of Laurey in "Oklahoma" at the 
Erlanger this week, making the third 
one to play the part since the com- 
pany opened here 33 weeks ago. 

An estimated $35,000 will go to 
Navy Relief from the State-Lake's 
showing -of~Dr, - Wassell T " under-the- 
deal with Paramount where Navy 
Relief receives a fixed percentage of 
the gross receipts, ■ : 

Will Morrissey brought into doctor 
up "Alaskan Stampede" at the Coli- 
seum. Show, which represented, in- 
vestment of $140,000 to Leo Seltzer 
and his associates, drew a general 
panning from all critics. : 

Sophie Tucker is. well on her way 
lo becoming one of the top "pin-up" 
girls of the armed forces. LaTucker 
having received almost 10,000 re- 
quests froin servicemen during her 
eight weeks at the Chez Paree. 

Danny Thomas just back from an 
overseas USQ-Camp tour spent his 
first night at the 5100 Club where 
he zoomed to fame. Comedian leaves 
for the Coast shortly for a film con- 
tract and to. discuss his role on the 
Fannie-Brjce-i^dio r show_next-la,ll.i— 



Diverted," which Fernando de Fuen- 
tes is directing and producing. 

Irma Gonzalez,' singer, back from 
U. S., headlining Aguila Cigarettes' 
show on XEW. 

Frank Morgan, now visiting, at- 
tended housewarming of picture 
directors who have organized and 
belong to National Cinematographic 
Workers Union. • , 



London 



O BIT U ARIES 



Cast, making a platter lor OW1 re 
morale at home, to bt shortwaved 
abroad. ■!' ;'"'.- '■-.-. ■ . ';••'.■''.' 

Joe Shea, eastern rep for William 
Cagney Productions, who recently 
'underwent two operations, due back 
today (Wed.) from Martha's Vine- 
yard. Mass. 

20th-Fox's pub. mgs. Jack Gold-, 
»kiii and ad mgr. Charlie Schaifer 
appropriately enough celebrated 
(heir mutual July birthdays at Jack 
St Charlie's 21. , ; 

Norma H. Moray, daughter of Nor- 
man H. Moray, shorts sales manager 
for Warner Bros., has started a film 
comment program over station 
WSRR, Stamford, Conn. 

Benny Fields to the Coast tomorrow 
<6> for the Paul Small vaude show, 
"Star Time." which opens in a couple 
ot weeks in San Francisco. Fields 
closes tonight at Loews State. ,-' 

John P. Med bury east on an 
emeipency radio scripting job; 
thence back to Hollywood to author 
(with Harvey Helm! (he new Har- 
riet Hilliard-Ozzie Nelson show. 

Raymond Spector's daughter 
Gloria married lo Army lieutenant 
on schedule Thursday (29) at dad's 
request; He's seriously ill with 

pneumonia at Nenox Hill hospital, j on films dealing with South America 
Alex Miller, whose works have i Col. Harvey Greenlaw in from 
been played by the Boston Sym- i China to confer with Hugh Harman 
phony Orchestra, is clef ring tunes I on Government-sponsored aviation 
for the musicomedy "Leaps and | cartoons. 

Bounds" by Peggy Phillips and j Lieut. Col. Marvin Young in from 
il' r X" H 2 am ?r Washington to huddle with USO- 

Betty Smith, who wrote the best- iCanip Shows and the Hollywood Vic- 
aelhng novel. "A Tree Grows in (orv Committee" 

..Brooklyn." is dramatizing "And 

Never Yield."' a novel about Mor- 
mons by Elinor Pryor. Michael Todd 



Tom my e Adams recuperating-from 
surgery, .. ' '" •,V : ' ' "•'"'. "••''•'.- '■■ 

Mary Gordon observing her 25th 
year in pictures. •;■'-.■ 

Dore Schaiy hospitalized for 10 
days with an infected arm. 

Frank Fay shoved off on a stage 
tour, opening in Cleveland. ,'. 

Fortunio Bonanova to Mexico City 
for a Spanish language. film. 

Perry Como shopping for a perma- 
nent home in Beverly Hills. 

Jacqueline Dalya in court to drop 
her married name, Conselman. '.._.' 

Ann Miller recovered from ap- 
pendicitis without an operation. 

Dorothy Lamour celebrated her 
eighth anniversary as a film star. 

Johnny Weissmullcr lost the Lake- 
side Golf , title to Bruce MeCormick. 

Kathryn Adams returning to pic- 
ture.* after a year off for mother- 
hood.- -. . ■•; : ■ " : - 
Bob Hope donated S 1 0.000 to the 
youth center project in San Fernando 

Valley - . ';' ; - ■■>■■■ .s 

Marvin Schenck, Metro, home 
office exec, iii town for studio 
huddles. 

Robert Mitchum. western actor, 
changed his film name to Robert 
Marshall. 

Leon Schlesinger resigned as chair- 
man of the Cartoon Producers As- 
sociation. _ * 

Chief Willow Bird, Indian actor, 
celebrated his 1.000th picture in 32 
years of filming. ;. 

Graiitland Rice celebrating his 
13th year as producer of Sportlighls 
for Paramount . • •;•' '■-• 

Skippy Home ier and Joan Carroll, 
screen moppets, graduated' from 
grammar .school. ••''• ■;. 

Guy Bates Post discharged from 
bankruptcy after; listing, debts of 
$15,436 and no assets. 

Bob Hope awarded a plaque by 
Jewish -War Veterans of America for 
entertaining servicemen. 

Major John Zanft. former eastern 
head of the A. & S Lyons agency, 
in town to open his own outfit 

Paul Price checked out of Samuel 
Golriwyn's flackery to rejoin the 
Hollywood Victory Committee. » 

Adolfb Felix Chust Brazilian pro- 
ducer, in town ' to function as advisor 



Tessie O'Shea goes back to her 
vaudeville unit, "This Is the Way," 
in July. 

— New-^York— Metropolitan - Opera - 
season at Covent Garden being 
mulled. 

George Formby going to the Ork- 
ney Isles to entertain the navy for 
two weeks. 

Tom Arnold is withdrawing re- 
vival of "Hit the Deck" after eight 
weeks' run. 

Leon Zeitlin joins Bernard Delfont 
organization as booking manager for 
his. theatres. 

Capt. Richard Green released from 
the army after three years, oil medi- 
cal grounds. -■'-'.. ; 

Kilburn Empire, operated as vaude 
house by F. J. Butterworth, switched 
to film policy. "}' "■ '"-.;',■ 

Norman Loudon's Sound City Film 
Studios. Shepperton^ reopening after 
being closed since outbreak of war. 
- Nicblette Roeg, for several months 
with the Willie Shore USO-Camp 
Shows unit getting her first film 
chance in Butchers' Films, "My Own 
Folk." 

Tom Arnold and Jack Waller sig- 
natured Adele Dixon to play oppo- 
j site Bobby Howes , in "By Jupiter," 
' which they send on tour prior to 
London showing. 

New London Palladium revue, 
which stars Tommy Trinder and 
Frances Day, opening week of July 
16. will be titled "If Its Laughter 
You're After." which is Trinder's 
trade-mark. / -\- :" '• •' - ..' '■; 

First Invasion song comes from 
Peter Maurice Music Co. Written by 
Michael Carr and Tommy Connor, 
it's titled "All s Well. Madamoiselle." 
ENSA already has sent the number 
j to concert parties going over to 
) France. ' ■ ■ '••'•:■ 

"In Memory of a famous actor and 
producer— Leslie Howard 1894-1943." 
A tablet with this inscription was 
unveiled May 24 over a bed in the 
London hospital, which had collabo- 
rated with him on his last picture, 
"Lamp Still Burns" 

Ralph Butler and Tolchard Evans 
song, "Jump Little Frog." published 
over here by Cavendish Music Cq., 
subsidiary of Boosey & Hawkes, has 
become the theme song of British 
paratroops, who often use their own 
words to the melody. 

Jack Hyltdn is setting new fashion 
in revivals. "The Merry Widow," 
which he revived in 1942, is being 
revived again as soon as it gets back 
from the Middle East where it has 
been entertaining the Forces for sev- 
eral months. Goes to Stoll's. Kings- 
] way. where it replaces "The Student 
i Prince." •'■ '- 



BLANCHE PAYNE 

Blanche Dayne, 73. vaude and 
legit actress who, in private life was 
the widow of Will Cressy, also a 
performer and author of many vaude 
acts, died June 27 in Hackerisack, 
N. J. Mrs. Cressy retired after her 
husband's death 14 years ago. 

C ressy and Dayne w ere topflight 
"performers in vaude, both - here and" 
abroad, for many years. Cressy 
wrote their sketches and those, for 
many other acts. Their skits were 
generally of the homey folk idiom. 
Vaude patror.s would look forward 
to their new offerings with the same 
anticipation as a legit show pre- 
miere. Starting out at Keith's Union 
Square as the conventional sketch 
act they skyrocketed to headline at- 
tractions. When riding their pop 



ico City. Miss Reyes recently re- 
turned front a tour of U.S. West 
Coast cities. * 1 



Ra-y Lewis, formerly a dancer in 
the "Ziegfeld Follies, died last week 
in Cleveland. He taught dancing in 
the Ned Wayburn School. New York, 
going to Cleveland in 19 24 to in- 
struct at Martha Lee School. 

Survived by his widow. 7 

Albert L. Rupert, 62, former De- 
troit theatre owner, died June 25 in 
Maywood, Calif. «Hc bought the En- 
terprise and Theatorium theatres in 
Detroit but retired two years ago. 



Jacob Lasker, 80., president of Las- 
kcr Sons Theatre Circuit, died in 



?Q«y Wave^i ^ June ^ ****** ^ 

Will Cressy was rated a sure book- ' ■.-■'. ■ 



Indie Pix Units 



Continued from page 3 



Ken Murray eif ted Marie Wilson 
with a diamond-studded watch for 
playing two years : in. "Blackouts" 
without missim? a performance. 

Joe E. Brown nrcsentcd Colors to 
the new Don E. Bxawn Post Ameri- 
can Lesion, named in honor of his 
son. killed in an airplane crash. • 



Mexico City 



slated Ho produce it in (he fall 
Ralph Bellamy signed by Victor lo 
make a series of recordings on his 
return Jo N Y. This will be the sec- 
, dud Bellamy record album, his first 
"Excerpts from Walt Whitman's 
"Blades of Grass," also for .Victor. 
Red Seal, being in a four-disc album. 

S. W. Singer, account executive of 
Buchanan & Co. for International C!asa Pilms. making "Amok," star 
Pictures, to Hollywood yesterday to! ring MSia Felix'. 7 ™'" : ; 
confer with William Goctz; Led Spitz i "Mi Niriito" < "My Little Nest"), 
Khd John LeRoy Johnston on adver- I name of newest niierie. 
Using campaigns on "The Woman in ' Dick Powell plans making a film 
the Window" and "Belle of the i heic: he speaks Spanish . ,.. ' ■• 
Yttkpri';'-:- . .'•'.'", (" Dolores and J'ernandez, Spanish 

dancers, headed for N. Y., top cur- 
rent bill at El Patio nitery. ,;■>'■■■'.': ■? 
f 0 . j . Carlos Graham, announcer at XEW 

*' ; ' ' ' hCie, rehearsing Spanish dialogue he 

• Art .Goloid now publicizing Ralph"; is to do for NBC program in N. Y. 
Kerjies Latur Quarter. Production of "Woman Who 

^ t a plain-, Louie Sebille., known .in Cheats Us" resumed , after being, 
: ; M)icago >ijighl club circles as Lou 1 half-finished because Lina Monies. 
Afvnolds. the emcee, is visiting here pix star, was ill. 
*fter completing . 50 missions over 
r.u.opc. ,•.'.'.■',•,■..•■-:' ■■'"■..'.•.'•': 
_ Paul Flynn has succeeded Norman 
cmk as local representative of the 
■Melody Lane Music Company. Flynn | 
v *. :, s formerly in the New York office i 
Southern Music 



putting up the coin for his pictures. 
Walter Wanger and Charles K. Feld- 
inan have profit-partic-ipation deals 
with Universal, and Sam Wood re- 
cently signed one with Columbia. 
Aside from United Artists, which 
is essentially a releasing company, 
RKO carries the heaviest amount of 
major indie product tor distribution, 
with Samuel Goldwyn, Spitz-Goetz 
(Internationa!) Walt Disney .ind 
Sol Lesser on the list. International 
has rounded Up important names, 
such as Gary Cooper, Nunnally 
Johnson, David Lewis and Casey 
Robir.son, and may eventually set 
itself up as a parent organization, 
with a distant possibility of forming 
its owii distribution system. 

While the major.. studios are con- 
cerned, (he older heads are not wor- 
rying too much about the future. 
As one of (hem observed.:- "History 
repeats itself. Back in 19)8, when 
Paramount lost / .Mary "Pickford, 
everyone! said the ccmpany was 
washed up. Paramouivl went ahead 
to do- bigger business (ban ever be- 
fore."' '' ":■:,-'■■: ' ■''.. •■■. ■'■'•■' ' .'•:■:;'.■ 



Chicago 



"Wildfiower" will be the ... 
Mrais-ht of the operetta series at (he. j Sara Gnash; Chi 
■tivie Opera House opening July 7 : . i. butting in Mrxieinj 



Leopold S(okowski gave Mexican 
macstroN Manuel E. Ponce - with 
whom he had that rehearsal dispute, 
a private supper. / '. ..' 

Lupe Velt-z and .Arline Judge 
back to Hollywood. Velcz person- 
allcd at world precm of Iter -"Nana" 
third I (Mexican-made pix) here. 

Chilean actress, de- 
oi'x in 'Kin it Is 



Washington 

Del Rio C!;ib-Capi!o! (heal re bond 
rally netted S50;000 in sales. =- ...... 

Jay Carmody of Washington Star 
on vacation B:il Hilt rtt.v editor, 
substituting as film reviewer. 

Biil'Herson of WRC, fciu ly morn- 
ing chaUcrbird, will provide the 
stage show a Loew's Capitol, week 
or July 20. ■■■■■?-: 

Variety Gliib. in association with 
Wfljard Roeit Players, will hold bond 
rallv Julv 6. Attraction is "Murder 
in the Old Red Barn." ; 

Edward G. Robinson was a week- 
end v isilor. His "Mr. Winkle Goes to 
War" stis a prc-relcas< date at the 
Eiirle theatre. Friday i 7 1. 

Griflith Stadium has been turned! 
back to the ball parkl - Plan 'was to 
have war bond rally on July 10. but 
lack of Hollywood and Bu'ii'lwiiy 
stars caused -caiiet II; 1 ton.. ' 



MARRIAGES 

Max Stein to Ida Rabinovvitz^ Foi - 
Groom is 



ing on the bj&circuits, and he was 
sufficiently prolific to write many. 

During the first World War they 
went to France and entertained U. S. 

soldiers. At St. Mihiel they played j eJ * J*]^ J^'_ L *j J , u,y . • 
on' a stage made up of ammunition 
boxes and candles for footlights. 
Prior to their vaude they toured the 
country for several seasons support- 
ing Denman Thompson in "The Old 
Homestead." : 



DOROTHY LOWELL 

Dorothy Lowell 2o. star of radio 
serial, "Our Gal Sunday" and who 
in private life was Mrs. William M. 
Spire, died in New York after a 
week's illness. July, 1. . 

Miss Lowell, whose mother was a 
member of the Washington Square 
Players, was a graduate of the Amer- 
ican Academy of Dramatic Arts. 
N. Y., and made her first professional 
appearance in small parts in motion 
pictures when 16. She had played 
leading role in the radio serial "for 
past 10 years. 

Surviving besides her parents and 
husband, who is with OWI. are a 
three-year-old son and one-week- 
old daughter. ' 



PAUL M. POWELL 



with 20th-Fox ad dept. in N. Y, 

Diana A. Skourus to Dr. George A. 
Foxyler, Mamaroncck, N. Y„ June 28. 
Bride is daughter of Spyros iand 
Mrs.) Skouras, prcz of 20th-Fox- ^ 
: Ann Savage to Cleliuid B. Hunt- 
ington, in Las Vegas. Ne\-.. June 27. 
Bride is a film 'actress; groom a film 
editor. 

Alice Harrison to Lieut. Tim Holt, 
El Paso, Tex., June 24. Groom was 
a film player before joining the 
Army: , '■;';'■' 

Ruth Richardson to Capt. William 
Caruso, Los Angeles, July 2. Bride 
is associated with Margaret Eftingtr, 
publicist 

Dorothy Schoemer to Leo Shriove 
in Tia Juana, June 25. Bride if a 
Warners', contractee; groom a film 
cutter. .-'•••: 

June Rollinson to Hub Jackson, 
Chicago, June 29. Bride is agency 
radio time buyer; groom is WMAQ 
newscaster. .",.:•'.• 

Getaldine Gray to Gerd Oswald, 
Hollywood, June 30. Groom is an 
assistant director at Paramount. 



1 Alice Gerber to Cpl. Jerry E^ner, 
Paul M. Powell. 63. former film Pittsburgh, June 30, Bride is niiery 
director, died at his home in Pasa- j singer; groom was band musician be- 
dena, July 2. Powell, who was ; fore- induction, 
managing editor of th<? Pasadena In- 
dependent at time of his death, had 
worked with such early stars as 
Douglas Fairbanks and Marv Pick- 
ford. 

Surviving are his widow, daughter 
and two .sisters, two brothers and 
two grandchildren. .'-'..; 



BIRTHS 

Mr. and Mrs, Ben Kirk, son. PI" ts- 
burgh, June 24!. .Father is an an-;. 
nouncer at KDKA. ' \ 

Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Cunningham, 
daughter, Chicago, June 23, Father 
is local and spot sales traffic man- 
ager, for NBC Central Division: ." 

Mr. and Mrs. Garry DeVlieg, 
daughter, Evanston, June 15. Father 
is NBC recording engineer. 

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Szurovy, son, 
Hollywood, June 20. Mollier is Rise 
Sevens, opera and screen stir: father 
circuit was expanding. Mqlntyre is '] is known on the stage as Walter 
brother of Here Mclntyre, Univer- j Molnar. ',':-:'■ 

Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Renaldd. son, 
Hollywood,. July 1. Father is a screen 
actor. 

Lieut and Mrs. Will Price, daugh- 
ter, Hollywood, June 30. Mother is 



GI.-S McINTYRE 

Gus Mclntyre.. 57, prominent ex- 
hibitor in Australia until ; a few 
years ago, died in Sydney, Australia. 
June 26. • ';■'.;; .. s'.: 

He sold his Broadway cinemas to 
Greater Union Thea'.res when that 



sal's managing director in Australia. 



THEO DeWITT 

Theo DeWltt hotel and nitery op- 
erator, died July 2 on a train while 
returning to Cleveland from a Ca- 1 Maureen O'Hara, film star; father, 
nadian fishing trip. former director is now a marine 



DeWitt, president of De Witt hotel 
chain, operated Hotel Hollenden in 
Cleveland, installing Vogue Room, 
and making it one of most profit- 
able niteries in Ohio. 



Mr. and Mrs. Benn Hall, daughter, 
recently at Berkeley, Cat Mother is 
Helen Morgan Hall, authoress; lather 
is ad-publicity director for Ducll, 
Sloane tt Pearce, book publishers. 

Mr. and Mrs, Hal Hudson, son, 
Hollywood, July 1. Father is CBS 
Coast program director. 

Mr. and Mrs. Glynn Rudich. son, 



EDGAR Ci MAYO 

Edgar C. Mayo. 86, former silent 
picture director, died June 21 in De- 
troit. He directed films for Seizniek ] New York, June 24. Fatier ■!5„:dra- 
and Universal, and also was known | matic director of WNYC, N. Y. .. 
as a legitimate actor, director '»n"a |;' ' ' "and''.' Mrs, ~Sam~- : KauYma'nT'- 

Jcne 28. Fa'ih'i r 
New 



writer.* 



• • 4 ' - , ' ' " *—'•: '•/,• riaughter. New York. Jcne 28. Fa! 
Associated for 17. y«air S --*««ah.-.the • k -', wJtK . NBC '. press dept. in -> 
Bbnslelle Theatres. - , v «rlr'- mniw i< n^„ibv n»rt 



York; mother is DDrothy Darling, 
legit and radio actress. ; 



Eric Johnston 



Charles Daniel "Dan" Odiirii. 61. j 

veteran circus owner, died June 25 ' 
in Chicago. Entering circus busi- 
ness at 15, when he died was 
paMner in American Circus Corpora- 
tion, Peru, Ind.. operators of Cole 
Bros., John Robinson and ^lagen- 
beclc-Wallace- circuses. Survived by 
his widow 

in amicability as well as unrestricted 
Wife of Al Shea n, 73. died in Hoi- j lrade for our films, 
lywood, June 2(i. Husband is of 
headline act Gallagher- & ■ Shean, ( 
which was dissolved when Ed Gal- i 
lagher died. She-an recently revived, 
it with Jack Kenny, as "Mrl Gal 

lagher" .■:' : j a <-.:, "-'.:■- 



a Couttnaeil from pat* I - — - 

and ,Hagen- -j ; iroRitts«out'-..fi]m conditions, trealitSi 
i etc., in European "as- well' a? South 
i American markets that- would 'result 



Johnston, before going abi oad, 
conferred with both Nicholas M. 
I Schenck and Barney Balaban. pi exiej 
I of Loew's and Paramount re-pec-. 
J lively, and it is understood the l:.t- 
J ter made such an impression upon 
Mrs. Catherine Mcllush, 75. old- j 'JoWsJon that it ^ij^ht load him; to 
time actress and mother of Frank * with the industry. 

McIIugh, stage and film player, died j The job Johnston, would have 
June 28 in Hollywood. • ■ ;' ■•'-,; ; would not be similar to one held 

- , v-- [ presently by Charles -Francis Coe, 

Lucba Reyes. 36. Mexican singer : as- exec v.p„ but would be equal jit 
tcho helped popularize the song i authority and impbrtance to ,:t <•' 
■•Guaflalaiai a," died June 2,V in Me\- ' Ufcy.v has held for 77 vesrs. '..'■';. ; -.'.. 





Star Debut 

PARAMJUNT'S ' o«# of iws worfcf 

TURY FOX'S " 




'':ir:-i:5vif( : ,:?s;: : s ?WWS'---ifi^i?i 



SCREEN v 



RADIO 



MUSIC 



STAGE 




]>ul>tialia<t WejsXly »t 164 West 4Clt» Strcot, New Vork 19, N, Y., by Variety, Inc. Annual subscription. fit. SiiValn cnDo's, 25 cents. 
KuLered as auCQUd-clasa lliuWer I>t!Ceiiiber 21', 19U3. at the Post Office at Kew .Yovlc, N, V., under the act 'oC March 2, 1879. 

COrVKKilir, 1!»H. Hi' Y.VKII'VrV. INC. ALT. HIGIIT3 KKSKKVKU. - ■ 



VOL.155 No. 5 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1944 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



'4445 ITWAY LEGIT SPLURGE 



More Negro Scenes Cut Out in Dixie 
Set New Problem For Fix Producers 



Situation of the deep south. where4 
• local censors have been cutting Negro 
scenes put of films, on the theory 
that this action avoids friction be- 
tween whites and blacks, is giving 
local exhibitors a headache arid Hol- 
lywood producers something to think 
about in planning 'future pictures. 
Southern reports .indicate that some 
local censors a*re hacking scenes in- 
discriminately, leaving the continu- 
ity blurred, ai)d the entire film 
choppy and confused. 



Last Thursday (0) . in Memphis, 
scenes Involving Cab Calloway and 
his band were cut from United 
Artists' "Sensation of 1945.'' head "of 
the censor board pronouncing them 
' inimical to t >e public interest." Re- 
viewers called the . rest of the film 
"patched up" and "confusing."' Lena 
Horne' "was similarily cut. out of 
"Broadway Rhythm/' when the Metro 
film played Memphis? although Hazel 
Scott's turn was not. Miss Horne was 
similarily snipped out of her last two 
films in several other southern cities, 
according to reports. 

Newsreel sequences showing Negi'o 
tioops have also been cut out in sev- 
eral.soothern towns, this fact not be- 
(Continued on page 32) 

Show Biz Group Drafts 
Movement to Stamp Out 
Racial Discrimination 

The Code Committee of the Emer- 
gency Entertainment .Industry Com- 
mittee has also taken vp the cudgels 
in tha fight to abolish racial dis- 
crimination. Committee is working 
on a code to be offered to the indus- 
ti'y for approval: Writers for radio, 
legit and pix, . actors, directors, 
broadcasters, producers and other 
groups are expected to sign a pledge 
guaranteeing:- cooperation in .elimi- 
nating caricatures of Negroes from 
P ays,' pix and' airers. Pledge .• will 
a}so include plali for .eliminating 
di^eiu.aiinationJn-^ppcirtuiiit.v, espe- 
cially i n the music field and Jim 
Crow practices in ail fields. 
.Proposed code is being drafted by 
Edward Chodorov,. author of the 
legiter, "Decision"; ; Peter Lyon, 
veepee of the Radio Writers Guild; 
•lid John C. Turner, of the NBC 
script dept. 



Servicemen Eye Pix 

For Post-War Jobs 

Film studios are getting floods of 
mail from serviceman, still in the 
Army or Navy, asking that their 
names be placed on the waiting list 
for jobs when they return to civilian 

life. ; -.''■":-" .''■'■'■ ' •■•' - - '-'.-'- , 

Applications for everything from 
messenger boy to actor have sho^vn a 
>"■»"" Increase iu the last i """l h _ 



Publicity departments are getting the 
most requests. -,.•''.' 



OPA Travel Ban 
Hitting Show Biz 

OPA officials during the past week 
began a nationwide crackdown on 
afV travelling, - necessary or other- 
wise; on Government business or for 
private industry, by train, plane or 
auto, in a move that has caused con- 
cern' in the entertainment industry. 

Despite the fact that a nationwide, 
fif-cfttes, tour of Hollywood stars c, 
behalf of the film industry's Firth 
War Loan drive resulted in the sale 
of $72,670,000 in bonds, the Govern- 
ment agency has requested the ces- 
sation of long trips, etc., by stars, in 
a group or singly. 

The Fifth Loan tour started June 
7 in St. Louis and concluded in 
Washington July 4. with Gary 
Cooper, Ingrid Bergman. Veronica 
Lake. Marlene Dietrich. Betty 
Gtable. Al Jolson and Harry Akst, 
Ethel Merman. Martha O'Driscoll. Lt. 
Bill Holden, Pvt. John Payne. Den- 
nis O'Kecfe, Red Sketton. 'Paul Lu- 
ka.i: Ray ;B'61'ger, .Gil Lamb, Walter 
Abel, Helen Forrest, Oscar. Levant. 
(Continued on page, 3* > ; 



VAUDEVILLE FOLLOWS 
THE GI'S INTO ROME 

Good old-fashioned American 
vaudeville has followed -the G Is 
•veivinto Rome. 

Soldiers in' Rome have been pi ied 
with handbills . plugging non-stop 
shows presented at the Theatre 
Splendore daily . 

" For two. bits.'the bovs can see such 
acts as the Three Bonos/ billed as. 

international . ' comedians": Helen 
^•i'ey, tabbed as "die San -Francisco-' 
S^'ywopd Star." and Elena Quirici. 

we? famous Australian tap. dancer." . 



DEAL SET FOR 400G 
BUY OF LUNA PARK 

Deal for the .outright purchase of 
Luna Park.- for ...years one : of the 
world's outstanding amusement prop- 
erties, situated in Coney Island. N.Y.. 
is expected to be consummated this 
week for a price reported at $400,000. 
Purchaser is Bill Miller, New York 
and Coast talent agent, who. reveals 
lie's making a preliminary, payment 
of $275,006; rest on mortgage? '.< 

Miller, in association with the Dan- 
ziger brothers, has been operating 
Luna Park on a lease' for' the past 
tour seasons. Danzigers arc not in on. 
purchase, deal. Report that Charlie 
Morrison, Coast a^ent ami operator 
of the Mocambo nightclub in Holly- 
wood, was in on the L'uria Park deal, 
for . a $100,000 slice, has been dis- 
counted by. Miller, who em}?ha«.fee,v 
that he's all alone on the deal. Pru- 
dence Bond Corp.; N. Y., owner. U on 
other end of. deal. . .. ';. -. 

Miller will, not, make anv rndic.il 
J' ;'.> (.Continued on page 2} . 




78 SHOWS 
TOPPING 43-44 



See 24 Musicals, 52 Straight 
Plays, Compared to Total 
of 40 Skedded at Same 
Time Last Year 



PLENTY ANGEL COIN 



By JACK PULASKI 

With its shrinking, list of attrac- 
I ions, Broadway is at the low-water 
mark but planned shows for next 
season indicate the season of .1944-45 
will be more productive tharr, dur- 
ing the year that endsrtf June 1. Not' 
co'tinting last month's Pops, there are 
76 new shows listed for presenta- 
tion, which exceeds the total of pre- 
mieres on Broadway. -for all of last 
season. Of shows to come— 24 are 
musics Is and 52 straight plays. At 
,..'-..':• (Continued oh page 39) '•'•'•. 



Postwar Gay White Way 
With Trickier Lights 
Envisioned by Leigh 

A plan to revolutionize. Broad- 
way's one-time Gay White Way after 
the War. mainly through new-style, 
electric-sign advertising, is being 
projected by. Douglas Leigh, now a 
U. S. Navy Jieut., (j.g. ), whose office 
controls 65'- of, the signs and sign 
space on Broadway. Leigh's post- 
war" plans, discussed' in.. N. Y. last 
week during a visit, involve new 
signs,, new lighting technique and 
new ideas, niariy borrowed from 
show business. . .-. , : ^S. , 

Bj-oadway.'s future signs; accord-, 
ins jo fcoisjt; will be ajj?i5.jriom;itit)n 
o f 'oil e - 1) l ird" stage-set Idea," one -ih i rcl ' 
Worlds Fan .exposition., idea, and 
onerthird old-type, electric sign. 
Signs will be three T dimensronal in- 
stead of the present one-dimension 
(Continued on page 36) 



Nervy N.Y. Bookie Moves 
Into Palace Bond Booth 

A new, high, in bookie' nerve came 
(0 light.. Thursday afternoon : (lit 
when a talker of horse bets planted 
hlmseti in the bond booth in the 
lobby of the Palace. N. Y,: where, 
among other things... j( was cooler to 
transact bu>indss on the pomes. .. 
• Charlie McDonald. RKO .division, 
manager who .has the Palace, hap-' 
■period 'by and started to question the- 
bookie, ' whereupon a 'cop who had 
been watching,: stepped tip and not 
only arrested thd guy. but also served" 
McDonald with, a formal' notice that 
-bookn'iaking • -was going on there. 
■ The bookmaker had taken over the 
boo-h while the gii'l. who had been 
.-Oilst'g boniU and: btunuis there, went 
out to dinner, ■ .-■'•, 



Air Package Shows Planned to Sell 
Politics to Voters 



David 0. Selznick Aided 
Schulberg;, Now Reversed 

Hollywood, July 11, 
B. P. Schulberg is joining David O. 
Selznick and Vanguard Productions 
as assistant to Selznick and Daniel 
O'Shea. Vanguard prexy. He will act 
iu administrative capacity .on busi- 
ness. management for both organiza- 
tions/ ■..' ; . , 

Selznick was formerly assistant to 
■ScTniTberg. w'tien" - faTter was .clTteTTTf 
Paramount productions. : ":'' •• -'.''■, -.' 



Ringling Season 

With some circus officials back in 
New, York early this week following 
a fire that leveled the Ringling. Bar- 
num & Bailey circus big top at Hart- 
ford Thursday (61 afternoon, caus- 
ing the death of 159 of the audience, 
it was conjectural whether, the show 
would -.attempt going out again this 
season. .- ; 

The equipment will be sent to win- 
ter quarters at Sarasota. Fla„ when 
and if it's released by Hartford au- 
thorities. All rolling stock, with the 
exception of a few ears, the. animals 
and all equipment on the, lot. has 
been attached pending a hearing 
next Monday to fix responsibility. 
The ensemble and 'most of the help 
are tinder salary, in the hope of, re- 
sumption, while ' the feature .'acts 
were advised to accept park and fair 
engagements. for the next four weeks 
if they desired. Most of -Oiie RBB 
people are living in the cars at. Hart- 
ford, and the cook tent is being main- 
tained..- , ' 

-'•-T'te-' «fk f Un i ?' * yi l ft! » i'i"::d-;y---(i' k-ft>'j34- 
• " <"Cosrt.i"'HH: ; d on Pag* il'.t . 



The political biggies— both Demo- 
cratic and Republican— are setliiuf 
up plans to step into show biz via 
radio on a big scale and are out i<> 
sell to the nation its next President 
by means of package shows. 

For the first time in political cam- 
paigning history, the Dems and Re- 
pubs are currently preparing for 
utilization of network facilities lor 
programs built around show biz pro-" 
duction lines. Discarding of thi 
sttaight oration technique is aimed 
at keeping awa ke the duii_tw_tsts:ii 



and reaching a maximum of the na- 
tion's listeners. ■ /•. 

On the basis of negotiation.s cut-- 
reutly under way, the .'■liome 
stretch'" electioneering spanning tlia 
inlerval between . the Ctiicago: con- 
ventions and the November ballot- 
ing will be anything but'a hit-and- 
miss affair. Instead, .the rival polrii- • 
cos are planning for the first time to : 
buy network time for regular weekly 
shows for a 13-week cycle on a ' tuna 
in same station, same time" basis. 
Heretofore it was just a case of 
grabbing single-time spots wherever' 
they wore available. 

Thus the steering committee boyi 
(Continued on page 18^ •'£.■ 



SEE PEACE NEAR ON 
PETRILLO'S DISC BAN 

. Meetings held Fridjy (7) and, Mon- 
day 1 1(1 1 among .lames C. Pctrillo, 
the War Labor Board and repre- 
sentatives of the National Broad- 
casting Company and the Columbia 
Broadcasting .. System, '-.-point to the. 
imminent settlement of the record- 
ing ban. which l ias been i n ell eel 
almo f two years. ••• ■"': '. .. ': 
• Understood that the WI,B insisted 
upon Pelrillo. meeting with mem- 
be « ol the disc companies to work 
out a;i agreement whuh would pave 
the. way for the resumption of re- 
cordinr, actu'itie^. 

Another confab betv eon partici- 
pants is expected, shortly, at which 
time agreements ' would .be made 
conceriung the type and amount of 
roj'jUies to be paid to me American 
Fedeiulion of Musicians by Victor 
and Col-uiTbia and. the- control, to be 
exercived-by Pctrillo oyer such pay.- 1 
men's ■ ' 



American Theatre Wing 
Cues Christian-Jew Ties 
Among Armed Services 

The American Theatre Wing is. 
best known for its Stage Door Can- 
teens, and. its additional multiple ac- 
tivities are generally recognized, but 
one of the Wing's little known ai-is 
loathe war effort is actually held -to 
be one of the top efforts by the the-- 
atrjcal:' -service organization, . Aivl 
that is in its pai'ticipation in the Nm- 
lionr.l-' Conference of Christians and. 1 
j.'CiV^' nrncale nipvement which coun- 
Uin'i.Nazi racial .propaganda among' 
£'(H^?;tiVities,. aimed at bi'irtgi'rii; to- 
gether Christians and Jews. 
, Principal function of NCCJ is io 
send learns, of clergymen to the Army 
camps and Naval training stations' 
to break down racial antipathies that 
may . exist. Teams of three consist 
of a Catholic pi'iest, a -rabbi and • 
hu'nister. According to authentic rar 
ports made by the Conference, whose 
membership includes people of tlii 
stage and film studios who contri'j- 
( Continued on page. 42) ■ 



RADIO CHERBOURG 
BACK INTO OPERATION 

. " London; July 11. 

First radio station to go into fto- 
eralion fr6m liberated Freiij-h t«-, 
ritory was Radio Cherbourg, which 
stalled broadcasting today (Tucs.i.- 
Slaliori is being led by ABS1E. BBC 
and' the OWL'-,' ■ Vv;' - '- •' 

OWt provides material in French, 
with- local slanfv Rationing- 'ne'.wi and, 
gos.-'ip make up the bulk oi the air* 
if !£•■>. . ' •■"■: ■'■:.■ ,' 



MISCELLANY 



Wednesday, July 12, 1914 



Robot Menace Shatters London Legit 
Houses; May Resume in Provinces 



London, July 11. 
Veteran West End theatre Ob- 
fervors, surveying the robot debacle 
that has closed two dozen London 
shows, are now eyeing the advisabil- 
ity of managers resuming their pro- 
— duTtitms^rr-the-provlnceS;- As -many- 
Londoners ^ '.'■-are , vacating the . me- 
tropolis for the safety of the coun- 
tryside, it's figured that this will be 
the best means of keeping the shows 
in operation. 

In some instances shows plan to 
close for short periods, until the 
robot menace passes, while others 
are going on tour for ENSA, the 
British equivalent of the USO-Camp 
Shows, in supplying entertainment 
for servicemen, 

A number of new shows dated to 
bow in have cancelled their pre- 
mieres and now plan to preem in the 
provinces. For one, "Tomorrow the 
World," a British version of the 
American hit that recently closed on 
Broadway, has been forced to drop 
rehearsals for its London bow-in. 

Of the 10 shows still running it's 
notable that the Windmill is still in 
operation. The Windmill, it will be 
recalled, during the dark days of the 
Nazi 1941 blitz alone, of all London 
legit theatres, survived the terrific 
night poundings and continued to 
operate. The Windmill has, cur- 
rently, a vaudeville revue now in its 
13th year and 175th edition. 

Where the 1941 blitz was much 
more .severe, in its , intensity, the 
present toll in theatre closings is 
pointed up by the fact that now 
there is no telling when or where 
the robot bombs will fall. The 
previous blitz was mostly a night 
aft a ir, thus enabling managers to 
continue with matinee shows. 
Stars Gut Salaries 
Stars of a number of productions 
in order to keep shows running have 
voluntarily cut their own salaries. 
Bebe Daniels: for one, and Michael 
Redgrave, for another, reportedly 
slashed, their pay by $1,000 weekly 
to keep the legits going. Redgrave 
Was starred in the American hit, 
"Uncle Harry," and Miss Daniels was 
playing the Ethel Merman part in 
"Panama Hattie," Broadway hit of 
several seasons ago. Both troupes 
«r» robot casualties. 

In many cases it's reported that 
salaries have been cut to $50 weekly 
minimum plus percentage agree- 
ments for the performers. For the 
first time in the history of the West 
End theatre there is no musical run- 
ning. \ ;■; : 

It was figured that to keep the. 
shows functioning it might be advis- 
able for the Government to cut the 
admissions tax, but this was deemed 
inadvisable, so the matter was 
dropped. 

Typical of the downslide in busi- 
ness as a factor in the closings was 
the gross of "Arsenic and Old Lace," 
the Broadway hit, which, according 
to reports, dropped from its more 
than $9,000 gross to about half that 
figure within the period of a week. 

Of the seven legit; shows remain- 
ing—two others are housing ballet 
and the Windmill has the vaude re- 
vue — three have been having a run 
of from two to four years. They are 
"Arsenic," "Quiet Weekend," "Blithe 
Spirit." The others remaining are 
"Sweeter and Lower*," "This Was^ 
Woman". "While the Sun Shines" 
and "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney." 

Picture theatres haven't suffered 
nearly as much, though- the reports 
have it that they're losing about 
$2,000 daily in the West End,- 



Gracie Allen to Cover 
Dems Parley for NANA 

Hollywood, July 11. '.' 

of North American Newspaper Alli- 
ance, will attend Democratic Na- 
tional Convention in Chicago next 
week accompanied by Margaret Et- 
tmger and Al Jolson. 
Jolson goes along as observer. ; 




Waterfront Music Hall, 
Relic of '90s, in Try 
For Hoboken Revival 

Thie 1 waterfront music hall, a relic 
of the mauve decade, is being 
restored in Hoboken, N. J., where 
Cervantes, Skelly's and other water- 
front grog, parlors, which for more 
than a double decade catered to stag 
trade exclusively, are relaxing rules 
and will how make a pitch for 
femme trade, as well. 

The spacious backrooms wherein 
the o'ver-indulgers were inclined to 
sleep it off are' undergoing a meta- 
morphosis and being transformed 
into music halls ala the former sea- 
men hangouts that studded the New 
York side of the river on West street 
from the: Battery to the 50s in the 
gay, '90s. Show and dancing will be 
thrown in with suds and stronger 
beverages with nary a cover or mini- 
mum charge. 

With Hoboken and adjacent terri- 
tory full of war workers, it's been 
axiomatic for some time now that the 
gal workers are as prolific spenders 
as the men, and in some, cases top 
them. 

Hoboken has consistently pulled a 
great deal of patronage from New 
York, particularly the lower west 
side, ever since the prohibition era, 
when the Jersey hamlet operated on 
a 24-hour schedule in most .of the 
waterfront thirst-quencheries. Elas- 
ticity of local ordinance gave them 
the edge in those days, since law 
stipulated closing at midnight but 
neglected to specify opening hour. 
Consequently the joints closed on 
schedule, cleaned out' the bums and 
short-coin boys and reopened 10 
minutes later, with curtained win 
dOws screening the 'light from the 
streets. Every month they took 
pinch, paid a nominal fine but busi- 
ness was seldom, if ever, inter- 
rupted. Proprietors reportedly 
amassed fortunes then and have been 
adding to them ever since. 

The new pitch via the music hall 
luce, will provide employment outlet 
for burlesque performers, striptease 
gals and chorines, since most of the 
proposed music hall cantantas will 
be patterned after burlesque, but 
kept clean so as not to embarrass the 
liberal gendarmerie. • • 



108th WEEK! 
KEN MURRAY'S 

"BLACKOUTS OF 1944" 
El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, Cal. 

"No comedian 1 have known in 
my 45 years in show business has 
ever received so many continuous 
laughs in one show as Ken Murray." 

W. C. FIELDS. 



Frances Farmer Plans 
Returning to Pictures 

Seattle, July 11. 
Frances Farmer was released from 
Steilicom hospital as cured last 
week, medicos stating that her "split 
personality" affliction is . a thing of 
the past. : 

With her mother, who has been 
with her at all times, she has gone 
to Reno to visit with an aunt, and 
then Miss Farmer plans.* return to 
..Hollywood and pictures. ' 



Laemmle, Jr., Back in Pix 

Hollywood, July 11. 

After 21 months in the Army, Carl 
Laemmle has returned to Hollywood 
to resume film production. 

Headquarters will be set up in 
'about two weeks to ready several 
story properties for filming under 
the Laemmle banner. 



Low Flying Over H'wood 
Army to Crack Down On 

Hollywood, July 11. 

Army fliers who enjoy hedge-hop 
ping over film studios have been 
warned fcy the War Department to 
quit their fooling or else. Studios 
have besn asked to..report the cutups 
if-they fly low enough fer their plane 
numbers to be distinguished, ' 

Orders against aerial antics were 
issued two years ago but have been 
disregarded recently. They cause 
heavy loss of shooting time. 



Lee Shubert Falls for H wood Rib 

Hollywood, July It, 
When you mention fox hunting to- Lee. Shubert, get ready to duck. 
Shubert is allergic to fox hunting' after a brief experience as an hon- 
orary rnember of the Hollywood Hills Nimrod & Ribbing club. The only 
fox in the hunt was Sid Grauman, whimsical fellow, who posed as a 
clerk in the Beverly Wilshire hotel— ovtr the phone. Paging Shubei t 
in the swimming pool, Grauman got him on the wire and told him 
about'the monthly hunt, an exclusive social function for distinguished 
guests, with appropriate costumes and Hollywood glamour gals fur- 
nished by the hotel. Shubert was in the lobby at the appointed time, 
arrayed in a red coat and a high silk hat and toting a rifle. 

WhilFHe was 'waiting for the-master of the hounds-to sour.d-"Yoicks" 
or "Tally-ho," somebody told him he was being ribbed. Meahwhile • 
Grauman had made a strategic retreat,. 



I SCULLY'S SCRAPBOOK \ 



By Frank Scully 



Luna Park Buy 



Continued from page 1 



changes for this season but will re- 
decorate next year. 

Lima Park was built in 1904 by 
Thompson & Dundy, who later built 
and operated the Hippodrome the- 
atre, N. Y. Thompson & Dundy dis- 
solved some years later, Thompson 
keeping the park. Upon Thompson's 
marriage to actress Mabel Taliaferro 
he switched into legit producing in 
addition to operating the Hippo- 
drome. Among his outstanding hits 
were "Polly of the Circus" and 
"Springtime,", both starring vehicles 
for his wife, and several musicals. 
Hit two Ways by stock market and 
production losses, he lost both Luna 
Park and the Hippodrome. • . 

Barron Collier, the advertising 
man, took over Luna some years 
back and operated it for 10 years. 



Radio-Pix Need Held 
Particularly Vital To " 
So. Pacific Servicemen 

By LIEUT. JOE ISRAELS, 2d, USMS 

(Lieut. Israels, :' veteran newsvian 
and author, turote the following 
article en route to San Francisco 
after a trip throuyh the South Pa- 
cific theatre of war. On the way he 
made some notes on the 'amusement 
and radio situation for "Variety.") 

v San Francisco, June 27. 
Radio and films reach their peak 
importance for troop morale in the 
South Pacific theatre for two impor- 
tant reasons. First is the almost 
complete absence of established civ- 
ilization in the areas north of Aus- 
tralia. Hundreds of thousands of 
men are dumped down in jungles 
where before the war there was not 
as much as a tiny White settlement. 
The theatres, pubs and recreation 
centers of places like London, Al- 
giers or Calcutta are completely 
absent — and keenly missed. 

Second, the flesh USO shows have 
been sparse in this area. Hardly a 
single big name except Joe Er 
Brown's sThgle act has been seen out 
here. An occasional Class C unit of 
unknown names with a couple of 
tired girls are about all the live en- 
tertainment the jungle. GI's see. In- 
cidentally, they gripe a lot when 
they read about the wide travels of 
Benny, Hope. Jolson, etc., and they 
wonder why they can't travel to the 
South Pacific, , •..;;„■ 

As to pix, they are doing a mag- 
nificent job in the South Pacific. 
Theatres are plentiful and equip- 
ment generally good. They are 
among the first things moved into 
any new area. I have seen shows in 
luxurious admirals' theatres in Gua- 
dalcanal (sometimes double fea- 
tures), and I have seen them sitting 
on felled cocoanut logs so close to 
the Jap lines in Bougainville that 
the screen exhibited bullet holes 
along with the 16* mm film. « " 

The product reaching the area is 
very spotty. There will be a brief 
run of good news pictures followed 
by a couple of weeks in which noth- 
ing but Class C quickies, ancient 
horse operas and 1935-vintage fea- 
tures are available. Distribution of- 
ficials in the theatre don't know why. 
They take what the States send 
them. Bing Crosby premiere in 
Guadalcanal recently drew 'poor 
crowd. Boxing bouts at Serv ice Cen- 
ter same night did the business. 
Nevertheless, films are the only real 
window back into normal life avail- 
able to the men in the South Pacific. 
>'■ Sitting In the Rain 

Their appreciation of this is almost 
pathetic. I have seen 2,000 men sit 
undisturbed in a drenching rain for 
two hours to see a B picture they 
wouldn't have paid a dime for back 
home. But pix are free and'pass a 
few. hours. And they offer a chance 
to see a clean, nicely dressed Amer- 
ican girl. 

Most theatres in the big bases have 
the day's news read over screen mike 
by a local announcer before the 
show. Boys listen apathetically as 
they do to direct radio news cover- 
age. Sports and local U. S. news get 
the best response. The. armed forces' 
radio service, beaming most of the 
Shortwave news from west coast sta- 
tions, gives them entirely too much 
war. Fully 75% of the daily word- 
age is on detailed reports of war in 
all. theatres. Short of really big de- 
vilopments the boys don't give a 
darn and . would rather get some 
States datelines. U. S. politics also 
uninteresting to them. Presidential 
sentiment about 90% for Roosevelt. 



; ;.' .''•:•; . Hollywood, July 11. 
Scrapbook-of-the-Monlh Awards for June as jiist announced in a mid- 
night communique include- 

v'l. To Joseph ("10 Years in Japan") Grew, who found no Jap resistance 
to just two things he did ,as our Ambassador to Tokio: entertaining the late 
Douglas Fairbanks and showing films of Bobby Jones' golfing. 

2. To Leonard L. Levinson, V.M.K., and top radio scriptician, for posting 
this sign on some lots near the Warner studio: *" 

"Buy war bonds. Or buy this. property and I'll buy war bonds:" 

3. To Universal for billing D. Durbin in "Christmas Holiday" in such' a 
-way that-even -the most disappointed could not reasonably ask for his 
'money back. . ' :; -<^-'-' i 'V-v : ■: '.','•';;■■ '.<■ \ '":.'.'' 

4. To Lieut. Ray LeStrange. U.S.N., who got one knee nicked in World 
War I, the other in World War II, and now has. got himself a. job as leg- 
man to Jimmy Fidler, who. will scream for having missed this one for his 
own column. >.'. '/;.'::■•' "' ••';. '/ '■'.„'"'■ ':■''''.. ' '■■":• 

5. To the star, who said: "Just because I'm on the Fox lot is no reason 
for assuming I'm going to have a baby." _ 

6. To Westbrook (Two-Track) Pegler for turning out a column 'June 11) 
on the subject of newspaper men's swindle sheets, with: practically no 
malice in it — not even against labbr or Eleanor. 



i.' :. '■< " ■ And In Color •;■ './;',: 

There was an award too for Cecil B. DeMille which got in by mistake. 
It was intended for the scrap heap instead of- the Scrapbook. It. seems. 
Cecil had thrown everything, including the old hokum bucket, and even 
that in three colors, into "The Story of Dr. Wassell." 

Those who work in the field of plausible biography can be thankful 
this guy never moved among them. Under his pen, Lincoln' would have 
come out as Dick Tracey with a dash of Capt. Marvel. It was the first 
time a producer had projected sex appeal into a blood transfusion. 



'- :'';.'- ;'-..' ^ V ; : A Rebel \- 
J; Allen Boone, who used to manage the RKO studio in Pauline Fred- 
erick's era, author of "You Are the Adventure," had an adventure of his 
own that receives honorable mention in the awards. He was standing in 
front of the Mayflower Doughnut Shop watching the crowds go by . Their 
faces looked so much alike he" turned to~ wrrtitfr^B-dTOghTra 
tion. It was no change. But suddently one doughnut refused to flip, as 
ordered, by the conveyor-belt. Here was a doughnut trying to go the 
American way. Here was one trying to set up business for himself. Boone 
rushed into the store and said: 
"I want that one." - ■ 

"What one? We don't sell less than three." .■....".- r ^- r 
"Okay, two, and that one," he pointed. ■'•, 
"But that one's all out of shape." , . . ' .".' ;' 

"Yes," Boone insisted, "that's the one I want. The one that defied th« 
machine." .'•'•.-.. ' 

He ate the other two. The individualist is enshrined on his desk. 



They particularly don't give a hoot 
for the long pieces the Statesid* 
propaganda beams put out about 
how inside resistance is being devel- 
oped in occupied countries. I under- 
stand the usefulness of this in send- 
ing U. S. news to conquered coun- 
tries. But the soldier stuff should 
be handled separately. The Army's 
nightly "Home Town News"'' pro- 
gram is good a,j far as it goes. But 
it's maybe a handful of trivial items 
from a handful of towns picked at 
random. The general run of soldiers 
and sailors would rather have their' 
news edited to follow, roughly, the 
front and split-page play of 'a 
major New York paper: ■;■ 

Radio Coverage Improved 

Radio coverage technically has 
greatly improved in the South Pa- 
cific since the first few months when 
Tokyo put the only listenabte signal 
into the air. The big new transmit- 
ters on the west coast get through 
most of the time. But 1 Tokyo Rose 
and the Tokyo "Zero Hour" are still 
much listened to. The latter espe- 
cially as it gives a full hour of un- 
interrupted pop music free of propa- 
ganda. Boys hardly notice the fact 
that big Stateside programs are de- 
nuded of their commercials: To the 
experienced ear it's a great improve- 
ment. One thing the big comics 
might remember in staging their 
studio applause, particularly when 
performing at big camps, is that the 
roar of applause is distorted and 
magnified over shortwave far beyond 
local reception at home. This makes 
for difficulty in picking tip thread of 
continuity after a belly laugh. ' _ 

Program makers bear down a little 
too heavily on jive. Just because 
soldiers are supposed to be hepcats 
doesn't mean they're all Harry James 
happy. More shows of Kostelarfetz, 
John Charles Thomas type would be 
welcomed, and symphonies have 
plenty of following, too. Local sta- 
tions at Guadalcanal and Noumea 
find NBC and Philharmonic rebroad- 
casts among their most popular 
shows and have, put in s. their own 
classical record hour w ith a ! i.tc rate 
local announcer nightly, . 



'DOC SALOMAN KILLED 
'BY ENEMY ACTION' 

AM. "Doc" Saloman, for last 12 
years general manager, of Warner 
Bros.' studios in Teddington, Eng- 
land, has been killed "by enemy ac- 
tion in southern England." accord- 
ing to word received in N. Y. last 
week. No other details were gjvieh. 

Saloman at one time was film 
stunt man in early days of Holly- 
wood Death is first known in U. S. 
pic industry over there since robot 
planes started operating. He had 
been with Warners about 30 years. 



er Sues James, 
Charges Broken Pact 

Hollywood, July 11.: 
Suit against Harry James has been 
started by Helen Ward, bandleader's 
former singer, who asks $8,250. Vo- 
calist asserts she had pact to sing 
with band for one year but contract 
was terminated after five months. . '; 
: Attachment suit has also been 
filed, tying up James' funds pending 
superior court hearing and decision. 



Beatrice Lillie to Stat- 
in Rose's '7 Lively Arts' 

Billy Rose has secured Beatrice 
Lillie for "Seven Liv el y Arts'' he 
stated early this week. Contact was 
made by cable and when the Brit- 
ish comedienne agreed to terms, a 
contract, was drawn up by Howard 
E, Reinheimer who has power ef at- 
torney lor Miss Lillie here. She's 
been away from Broadway for four 
years. Manager originally intended 
to star his former Wife, Fannie 
Bricc, in "Arts." 

Show is due into rehearsal Oct. 7 
and will relight the Zirgfeld, N. Y., 
as a.legiter sometime in November 
or December. 



Wednesday, July 12, 1944. 



PfiRmfY 



PICTURES 



HO U. S. PIX BIZ BIAS-RANK 



French Freeze No. Africa Film Coin; 
Shape of Postwar Things to Come? 



'Matter of getting film rental rev— ► 
eiiue out of North Africa promises 
tli be a recurring headache until long 
after the war. Foreign department 
otTicials have tried every conceivable 
rtieans to pry loose the picture coin, 
from distribution of U. S. films there, 
but Free French officials remain 
obdurate. Their attitude is that they 
must protect their foreign exchange 
the same as any other foreign land 
• apparently hard hit by war .Condi- 
tions. •'-, :-,••' '.J .. : ' : ,'...':'-. '' ■':':■"'■ 

Estimated that several hundred 
million francs beionging to American 
distributors are currently frozen in 
North Africa. But the African re- 
gime claims that they haven't the 
dollars to spare, and must keep the 

•••colli in their land. U.S. films orig- 

; inaiiy were taken into North Africa 
by the OWL soon after the Allies 
took over. This apparent goodwill 
gesture, to give the populace of 
North Africa latest American fare 
and something in entertainment 
rather tlmh propaganda, now is rated 
strictly as, a - cold business proposi- 
tion.: In. fact, the North African gov- 
ernment now is insisting that the 
U.S. distributors pay customs duty 
since Hie films went into N. Africa 

; lii.'ty' free under the OWI. 

Based on their experience to date 
in North Africa, foreign managers 
in N. Y. believe the foreign market 
a.-, to monetary remittances does not 
a.ugtir well for the early postwar pe- 
riod. This bad been anticipated by 
some foreign executives, who felt 
that such lands as France, Belgium 
and others now under the Nazi heel, 

jvouid. be in financial straits after 
the war. And hence, would demand 
to keep all money possible in their 
own countries. ■ - : • ' ' '• 



MPPDA TO ADD REPS 
IN FOREIGN FIELD 

. U, S. picture industry soon will 
.'have additional representatives in 
key foreign countries, the Motion 
Picture Producers & Distributors 
Assn: now working on a plan to have 
emissaries in some six or seven ad- 
ditional countries in the near future 
and alter the war. Australia-New 
Zealand, Russia, Italy, Latin-Amer- 
ica. Scandinavian countries, France 
and Greece being listed as likely to 
have a MPPDA rep like Great Brit- 
ain has had, and France had before 
the war. . "' ' ,'.- ;- .-, 

, Although these industriv envoys 
will keep close tab with U. S. gov- 
ernment counsels in countries where 
■■stationed, this is not a State Dept. 
project though having its blessing. 
F. W. Allport. who now is tem- 
porarily in N. y., represents MPPDA 
in Britain, and Harold Smith was 
Stationed in Paris before the war. 
Latter is assigned to the MPPDA 
foreign department in N. Y. .= ,.: 



GFs Besiege Metro's 
Mickey Rooney at Camp 

'•."' ,,'•'••.• • St. Louis, July 11. 
-In addition to : the rigors of basic 
training at Hie Ft. Riley, Kas., train- 
ing camp, the G.I. Joes are giving 
Mickey Rppney a strenuous work- 
out The pinup gal craze has cur- 
rently subsided, men on leave re- 
Port, for the autograph hounds who 
besiege the pint-size Metro star 
to "John Hancock" wearing apparel, 
scrajx of paper., and anything else 
t«e G.I.'s can lay hands on. : 

Nor are Rooney's talent on the 
skin.* overlooked. A drum has been 
Unearthed anil Rooney is asked to 
Remonstrate his prowess with the 
sticks. Reports 'here are that 
Kooney gets, little sleep. ' 

When lie reported for training 
Roone.v had / difficulty- M lift his 
barracks bag. but after several 
weeks of hard work is rapidly get- 
ting ii. to O.K, physical condition. 



Lee Tracy Back in Pix 

I ■ Hollywood, July 11. 

Me Tracy returning to pictures as 
«')> male lead in RKO's "Bctravai 
'•'om the Fust;' 

Actoi has received, .a discharge 
iu.ni the; Army after two years' 
f**¥*e&.:;- .;•-■' . . - . 



Gaslight to Arcs 

- Hollywood. July 11. 

Two actors whose combined 
thesping covers 10i years are 
working in "Dark - Waters" at 
General Service. ' ": '., 

Frank Dawson has been acting 
since 1887 and Paul Burns broke 
into vaudeville 44 years ago. 



MPTOA Sees No 
Video Pix Threat 



'-.;■ -.•', Los Angeles, July 11. - 
Don't get panicky about television, 
is the gist of a bulletin sent out by 
Ed Kiiykendall. prexy of the Motion 
Picture Theatre Owners of America, 
who points out that video in its pres- 
ent form offers little competition to 
film houses as commercial. entertain- 
ment. ;'■-.;•■■', ' ■■'-.'' ■ •■' . ,; , - 
"The best that television can do 
in the theatre!" the* bulletin declares, 
"is to equal the picture now repro- 
duced from film, and until it de- 
velops the artistic and entertainment 
quality and the resulting appeal of 
studio-produced motion pictures, it 
will otter little actual competition." 





Int'l Television Setup With N. Y. As 
YANKS ! Hub Envisioned by Levey, Hall Caine 



SEEK ASST. MGR. IN 
_-$yiflaBSC0NDINC 

Memphis, July 11, 

Police throughout the nation: are 
looking for John Klinck, 23, assistant 
day manager at Loews State here, 
who disappeared last Monday (3) 
simultaneously with $7,210.25 of \he 
theatre's money. ' ..' 

Warrant for Kli nek's arrest on 
charges of fraudulent breach of trust 
were signed by Arthur Groom, 
Loew's State manager, when Klinck 
failed to return from the National 
Bank of Commerce. • whence he had 
gone to deposit that amount. •■' 

The money, $410.25 of it represent- 
ing war bond sales, had been dropped 
in the bank's overnight depository 
through an outside slot the "night be- 
fore at the close of business. ,As ttte 
day assistant manager, Klinck 's first 
duty each morning was to go to the 
hank, take the money from the over- 
night depository and sign a receipt 
for it. then cross the lobby to a tell- 
er's. -cage and make the actual de- 
posit. Police said he signed for the 
depository withdrawal, but never 
reached lie teller's Cage. He hasn't 
been seen since. 

Klinck formerly worked at the 
Malco lor nearly two" and a half 
yeais, starting" a* tishei . and" wa\s sa 
office assistant there" when he quit 
some months ago to go- to Florida. 
'Returning to Memphis, he had been 
employed by Loew s since March 1, 



Henry Ginsberg Absorbs 
De Sylva's Par Chores 

Hollywood, July 11. 
Henry Ginsberg will take over the 
post immediately of general man- 
ager in charge of all production for 
Paramount Pictures. Inc , according 
to an announcement by Y. . Frank 
Freeman'. '.with. Ginsberg replacing 
B. G. De Sylsa; who bows out Sept. 

is. '-'.- ' '•:"■■•'.. ;-\'. :; '.;' .:■''".•'•'■; . 

Ginsberg's new chores are in adr 
dit'ion' to Ins current job of vice- 
pre/ arid general manager of studio, 
post he has held since arriving there 
in 1940. He will announce shortly 
his over-all pi n for studio manage- 
ment Slid all production activities, 
p*iiits of which he has worked out in 
detail. :. V ,',:'v ..:..''.'. ',-'■' - '.' '.''"..- 

DeSylVa, of. course, continues at 
the Par studio, but in the capacity 
of air iiidie unit producer, making 
two or three pictures annually ,for 
Par release. . ■ . ,• : - - 



• London. July Jl. ■'.' 

"I have no fault , to, find with 
American exhibitors and I do not 
subscribe to the theory of American 
prejudice against British films. Why 
should the producer of a Him made 
in this country expect to tiiid an 
eager market for his product across 
the Atlantic? In other lines of busi- 
ness nobody gets anything handed 
to him on a platter. Why, then, this 
feeling of being unfairly discrimin- 
ated against because British films 
are seen so seldom on American 
screens? . In my opinion; it is a. 
grievance without any real i'o'unda- 
tion." -. . ■ ■■•'. ; : " ' '■' ./*■ .',.-.'•'..',■ ; 

J. Arthur Rank. British nimdom's 
outstanding figure, made this state-; 
ment exclusively for . publication in 
"Variety" in the course of. a detailed 
inquiry regarding his plans for the 
distribution of his films in the U. S. 
What followed these generalizations 
is perhaps best told in question and 
answer form. 

Q.— Does this mean you consider 
there is no American hostility tor 
wards British films- as such? . 
' A.— -I am sure there is not. All 
the American wants is to get the 
best possible value for his money. 
He is a shrewd shopper, and not in 
the least insular. . So, if he caii af- 
ford it, he buys a Rolls Royce — not 
because it is British built, but solely 
because he considers it the world's 
best car. For the same reason every 
American pantry has a tin of Col- 
man's mustard on its shelf. 

Q.— -Is this to be taken to mean the 
only reason British films have never 
been able to crash the American 
-market-is-because-t hey are nut g ood- 
enough? v- 

A.— -No. After all. motor ears and 
mustard are not comparable with 
films. Between American picture- 
goers and British film producers 
there is a barrier— a . formidable 
barrier represented by the distribu- 
ting organizations of the United 
States. Fans cannot be expected to 
register their approval, or .* disap T ' 
proval, of a picture they are not 
allowed to see. 

No Discrimination 

Q. — But you say charges of unfair 
discrimination have no real founda- 
tion in -spite of this formidable bar- 
rier? • .'.'• : '- 
. A, — 1 do; Neither unfairness nor 
prejudice enters into, 1L jt . is,, en- 
tirely a matter of business. Natur- 
ally, inevitably, American; distribu- 
tors are primarily concerned with 
getting the Widest possible screening 
of their own products. Willi com- 
petition as keen as it is in the do- 
mestic field in America- it is surely 
not remarkable there should be lit- 
tle screen time for films of foreign 
origin, however high their quality. 

Q.— Leaving aside unfairness and 
prejudice, agreeing there is no 
American hostility towards British 
films as such, how do you expect to 
obtain an increased amount of 
screen time for your pictures? 

A.r-Curiously enough, the very 
... ■ '. (Continued on nage ,' „ 1L - t 



Another Omen? 

- Because ho opened the tele- 
vision seminar last Thursday (6) 
In N, Y., Sir Derwent Hall Caine,' 
son of British author Hall Caine. 
recalled to "Variety" a similar 
experience 25 years ago also in 
N; Y. He was touring the U. S. 
with a propaganda sketch, and 
the opening turn was a dancing 

act."' ,"' ;:' ' : --r- "■'■-'•.-.'' '•' 

"It was Fred and Adele As- 
taire," he said. -.."They-, opened 
the show, and were with us 40 
weeks. So you see, I don't really 
mincT being opening speaker." 



IHfent Away' To 
. Up Scales 50% 

"Since You Went Away" will be 
sold under a policy which will re- 
quire exhibitors to increase admis- 
sion prices 50% over regular scales 
now in:- effect, thus allowing all ac- 
counts to run the picture under ex- 
isting clearances, it was announced 
yesterday (Tuesday I by Carl eLeser- 
man, United Artists general sales 
manager: 

This" policy, Leserman said, will 
enable the producer to market his 
picture throughout the country with- 
out the necessity of a year's delay 
because of a fixed admission price, 
which would be asked from all thea- 
tres as has been done in the past on 
a number of tttms. 



WB Mom to Partkse 
H wood Hills Tele Site 

■ Hollywood. July 11. - 
. Purchase, by Warners, of a site for 
a. television studio on one of the 
Hollywood Hills, is in escrow's with a 
few minor details to be straightened 
out before the deal goes through. 
Land- price is under.uood to be 
around $75,000. .; . . . 

Exact location of proposed- video 
transmitter is still - a secret but is 
said to. be one of the highest hilltops 
overlooking naiiWoni*.-. •;■';■'■/ ;'• 



Sturges-Hughes Form Corp. 

• Hollvwhod. July 11. 

Preston Sturges and his, /iuaiieial 
backer, Howard H'Ciies. have in- 
corporated as Calil'imiia .Pictures 
Corp. '.-;'; , ;■'•:.■; ' . ;••/,'. .. ••' ; 

For several months Siurg-''- has' 
beeli looking over s'cry m.Werial. 
and will be ready to ifart, produc- 
tion this summer, ^' : 



It is belief of David O. Selznick and 
United Artists that the policy of a 
fixed admission price from all thea- 
tres, regardless of their sequence of 
run, does not fit "Since You Went 
Away," since the policy of a fixed 
roadshow admission price on this 
film would thwart Selznick's desire 
to have his picture shown to the 
largest number of people in the 
shortest possible time. • 

Leserman revealed that it defi- 
nitely will be required that exhibit- 
ors play the film single-feature in all 
situations due to its length, which 
will be two hours and 51 minutes, . 
U A'» Regular Pix Flow 
Despite more rigid releasing stand- 
ards than in the past. Umted Artists 
at a two-day district sales meeting in 
N. Y. Monday (10) and yesterday 
(Tuesday) outlined delivery plans 
which will carry its product on reg- 
ular flow deep into 1945. 

The lineup presented by Grad 
Sears, v. p. in charge of distribution, 
and Leserman, includes five pictures 
completed and awaiting release; four 
others which are now in production; 
11 that are in preparation, and 28 ad- 
ditional features which are planned. 
If all these pictures are released 
within a 12-month period, the pro- 
gram will be the largest ever de- 
livered by UA and would average 
close to one feature a week. 

The program of pictures outlined 
'JM>d- the~wg»}»*'itr;r -t*f- -release- plans 
wai termed _ the greatest fprwatd 
*t»p taken by UA in its history: by. 
Edward C. Raftery, president. It was 
-made possible, he added, not on.ly 
by constructive groUndwoik along 
production lines but by rearrange- 
ment, of company management which 
assures not only this present favor- 
able setup, but a continuation of it 
into the future '• J.',.-.'-". 

Pictures completed and awaiting 
release are David O, Selznicks 
"Since You Went Away'' and "Dou- 
ble Furlough." Hunt Stromberg's 
"Guest in the House," Edward 
Small's "Abroad With Two Yanks," 
and Seymour Nebenzals "Summer 
Storm." . .'..•.• ''•. ;'.. ■-'''. :■-''■•''.'. ','••■.. 



Speaking from actual experienct 
with television in London theatres' 
just before the -war, Arthur Levey^ 
Scophony Corp. of America prexy, 
forecast vast television development 
in the immediate postwar years. He 
wa,s one of three to talk before Radio 
Executives Club tele seminar last, 
week. Levey predicted there was no 
reason for N. Y. not becoming tele- 
vision center of the world if the pic- 
ture industry concentrated on ad- 
vancing tele-casting by cooperating 
among themselves. :' 

This tiein with international as- 
pects of television was further 
stressed by Sir Derwent Hall Caine. 
now in the U.S., who foresaw actual 
telecasting from country to country 
and continent to continent. He was 
special guest, speaking briefly to 
open the seminar. He forecast that 
if toy television sets are popular 
after the war "they must be big 
toys." Relating how the British gov- 
ernment is actively engaged in tele- 
vision, the British visitor told how 
Scophony's activity in England now 
is aiding Scophony Corp. in the U. S. 

Seminar was given additional fac- 
tual data by Ray E. Nelson, v.p. of 
Charles M. " Storm agency, . who 
bluntly stated that tele programming 
is terrible. He felt that it' is smarter 
to correct errors now in . experi- 
mental period than later when pro- 
grams become more general. Nelson 
gave many experiences from his\ 
direction of some 55 television shows. 
Need Bigger Screens 
On programming, Levey hinted 
that possibly this is not the sole flaw 
of television today. He stated that 
" : : (Continued on page 34) . 



SEE GRIFFIS PROBABLY 
RESIGNING FROM OWI 

:- '■--•'.- Washington, July 11. 

Stanton Griffis, back in. this coun- 
try from his trip to Sweden on be- 
half of the State Dept. and the Fed- 
eral Economics Administration, is 
expected back at" his desk as head of 
the OWI motion picture bureau to- 
morrow (Wednesday), 

However, reports persist in Wash- 
ington that Griffis is not long for 
the OWI post which does not have 
enough work to keep him busy, and 
that he will turn in his resignation 
to Elmer Davis in the near future. 
He is expected to stay on until a suc- 
cessor is named. 



Cowdin East 

J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of 
Uni versal's board, who has remained 
over on the Coast on production de- 
tails, is. due back in N. Y. next week. 
Cowdin came east for the Chicago 
sales meeting, but went back to Hol- 
lywood when it ended, ' '.- -. '";" 

He plans staying in N, Y. for some 
time this trip, with Nate Bluinberg. 
president, remaining on the Cousl 
most of the summer. .'- 




Trull* Mirk Kc£ist«reit .... 
FOU\T>KI> BT SfMB SILVKHUAK 
rnblUlwd Weekly by VAKIK'J'V, lne. 

-Sid Silverman, Pruidtnt- 
1S4 Weet «th St., New Tork J», N. I. 



SUBSCRIPTION' 

Annual...... i 1 0 Foreign (11 

Minnie fople*. ........... ti Oenti 



Vol. 153 



1U 



No. 5 



INDEX 




Bills. .. .. ; ,;', 


38 


Chatter '•.-..; 


43 


Film Reviews ,:. ... . 


..... 20 


House Reviews. ... 


-'... '. .. ?8 


Inside— Legit .... ,'.';.. 


41 


Inside — Music ■ ,. , . 


.... 33 


Legitimate . , . , '. 


•; • 40 




38 


Music 


. 32 






Night . Club Reviews i. 


38 


Obituary . . ; . , 


:'.'."•.'•;'.. 42 


Orchestras . ., . . .- 


...... 32 


Pictures . . ... 


3 


.Radio . 


... 24 


Radio Reviews. , . , . 


...... 28 


Frank Scully..... , = , 


2 


Television ,, ; .- ; . .: . 


31 


Vaudeville . . ... , ,. 


...V. 30 


War Activities. . 


..... 4 



l».\ll;Y VARIKTJ 

(Pu'»ti3li»d in tltfttfWoM &: 

J*ail.v' Vailet.\-, Ltd.). 
• : till » Tear— 1)3 Fore-Sen 



WAR ACTIVITIES 



U&RiETY 



Wednesday, July 12, 1911 



Pix Industry's Bond Drive to Go On 
Through July at Treasury's Request 



Despite reports that the Fifth War 4- 
Loan Drive goal ot 516,000.000,000 ' 
was' reached by end of the campaign 
last week (8), the Treasury Dept. 
has requested the film industry to 
continue war bond selling efforts 
throughout the entire month of July, 
R. J. O'Donnell, national committee 
chairman, announced.;.. • , . : 

That the industry would be asked 
to continue selling bonds after Of- 
ficial conclusion of the drive was re- 
ported in "Variety'' last week. 

All bonds sold during the ensuing 
weeks will be credited to the. in- 
dustry's Fifth Loan total. Reason for 
the request for continuance, accord- 
ing to the committee, is the upped 
Government-fund requirements due 
to the invasion of Europe and battles 
to come in the Pacific area. 

"Instead of closing our records on 
July 8 as originally planned," 
O'Donnell's statement declared, "the 
final report font) will be sent to all 
participating exhibitors on or about 
July 20 to cover bond sales from 
June 1-to July 27. Exhibitors are 
requested to keep records until* the 
closing date and to mail them to tile 
national committee July 27, so that 
the entire drive cr.n be cleaned up, 
and a proper and complete report 
can be made to the industry and the 
Secretary of the Treasury." .' 

"My Way" Preem $5,QO«,0«0 

Omaha, July 11. 
Capacity crowd paid $5,000,000 in 
war bonds to see "Going Mj Way" 
alone at the Paramount theatre, 
bringing theatre and retailers bond 
drive total to $32,775,000: Tristates 
District Manager Bill Miskell fig- 
ured that the picture with some 
shorts would be enough entertain 
ment. Result was double line crowd 
a block long before the doors opened. 



Htgh-Priced Junk 

Hollywood, July 11. 

Patriotic struggle for a hunk 
of junk in the Hollywood Legion 
Stadium wound up with Al Jol- 
son bidding $205,000 in War 
Bonds for a door blown off a 
Japanese officer's car, Runner- 
up was Harry Popkin, theatre 
operator, who bid $200,000 and 
then , decided to buy . the hands 
anyway if Jolson would lend 
him the door for display at the 
Million Dollar theatre. ••' > 

Unidentified p a tr i o t who 
started the bidding with $2,500 
also decided to let his bid stand. 
Treasury Department collected'a 
$407,500 total for a door. 



Mpls. Tops V. S. in Bond Preems 

Minneapolis, July 11. 
Minneapolis . territory is jubilant 
because it leads the nation's ex- 
change areas in percentage of bond 
" J pTEe1rTS~aTio^tree^howsT-aecording-to- 
word from N Y. Territory includes 
Minnesota, North Dakota, South 
Dakota and northern Wisconsin. 

W. A. Steffes, industry > Minnesota 
chairman, set 539 bond preems and 
100% of regularly operated theatres 
holding free bond shows. 



Phyllis Colt Lauded 
After Playing Before 
Wounded From France 

Phyllis Colt, singing comedienne 
currently touring warfronls in USO- 
Camp Shows unit, "'It's A Pleasure," 
was given a letter of appreciation 
from the brigadier, general in 
charge of inv^'on troops in Cher- 
bourg. Her unit was the first to play 
to U. S. troops wounded in France. 
Letter reads in part: - ' . : 

"I wish to commend you -for your 
part in 'It's A Pleasure' at hospital 
two days after the invasion. 'The 
fortitude you displayed in giving six 
consecutive performances within 
space of a few hours in order that 
every soldier might see the Show is 
not only a credit to you but also to 
the profession you represent.'' 



Morgenthau's Posy 

". / Washington. July 11. 

The motion picture industry "has 
t\irned in its best performance in 
the Fifth War Loan drive," Secre- 
tary of the Treasury Morgenthau de- 
clared in a statement issued here 
yesterday (10). Ted R. Gamble, na- 
tional director of the treasury's war 
finance: division, also paid tribute 
to the nation's, showmen for their 
accomplishment during the cam- 
paign. 1 ../'■'-'-' 

Morgenthau's statement said, 
"From reports; it is evident that the 
motion picture industry has made 
another good record. All branches 
of the industry pitched in to do a 
(Continued on page 35) 



'Blackouts' Gets Over 
$2,000,000 in Bonds 

Hollywood. 'July 11. , 
_- Setting a priwrirnt for Coast legit 
productions, Ken Murray's "Black- 
outs of 1944" gave a War Bond mat- 
inee which pulled in $2,126,500 for 
Uncle Sam. Performance was sec- 
ond of its kind for the Murray show, 
first having topped $1,000,000 in last 
Bond drive. 

Cracking of $2,000,000 record is 
top scorer for a legit '(production! for 
show of this kind. ■ 



Japs' Pix Propaganda 
Channels Nipponese 
Ideas in Curious Way 

Washington, July 11. 

Government survey made here on 
the psychology 6t Nip films shows 
they are sharply angled to propagan- 
dize a special way of life for the 
Japs — something entirely foreign to 
U. S. ideas. Report made from a 
study of available Jap pix and recent 
reports of new films made in that 
country says in part: 

"The films strikingly bring home 
the fact that in the Japanese cul- 
tural pattern the degree of personal 
frustration is tremendous. The les- 
son taught is not individual success 
in love, wealth, or pleasant living, 
biit patience and resignation: 

"The films set up as models of be- 
havior those individuals who never 
waver in the pursuit of prescribed 
obligations and thus arouse pity, love 
and admiration in the beholder. , ■ • 

"Love desires are pictured as sub- 
jugated to the dictates of the social 
pattern and usually doomed to frus- 
tration. Love is Sacrificed to duty to 
one's country, one's father, or one's 
family obligations. Thus there is 
rarely a happy culmination to a ro- 
mance. On the contrary the films 
clearly bring out the fact that there 
is an irreconcilable conflict between 
the desires of one's heart on the one 
hand and the pattern of living laid 
down for one on the other. In this 
conflict of wishes the hero or heroine 
invariably chooses the path of duty, 
while the weaklings give in to their 
own desires. .. .'. 

'. "The war, from the viewpoint of 
an individual or a family in the films, 
is treated much like a natural calam- 
ity such as a storm or an earthquake. 
The purpose of war is never "ex- 
plained and the enemy is riot" per- 
sonalized. The war just goes on and 
on and on. 

"There is no personalization of the 
enemy and therefore no hatred of 
him. In fact, , in the films in which 
actual fighting occurs on the screen, 
the enemy is scarcely shown— only 
his guns, his fire, his bombs. There 
are no closeups of enemy faces. One 
neither hates nor pities the enemy." 



Army Blueprint Show 
In Rehearsal Next Wk. 

"Hi, Yank," second of Army Spe- 
cial Service blueprint shows, goes 
into production next week, with first 
performance skedded for a camp in 
N Y. area. Revue will poke fun at 
this Army weekly in -Songs,- skits 
arid patter:' "Boolr lend 'tpusuijs com- 
pletely -at-wri-tt&r.;- : wiU> Zl'riK'.te.. 
Frank Loesser ("Praise the Lord") 
supplying most of songs. Show, like 
its predecessor, "About Face" (re- 
viewed in "Variety." May 3D, is in- 
tended to be sent, in script form, to 
all camps, for GIs themselves to 
stage and perform. 



Overseas Pix Situation Improved; 
GIs See Three Films Each Week 



Aug. Bond Drive 

'.-.'. Ben Amsterdam, president of 
the Atlantic; Theatre circuit in 
Southern New Jersey, has ad- 
vised Fifth Loan national head- 
quarters he will hold Free 
Movie Day in all circuit houses 
during August. ' _...'. 
Free admission by purchase 

yOt a bond will continue during 
that month in connection with 
the 13th anniversary of the At- 
lantic group of film houses. 



South Pacific Scribe 
Grabs Tips on Latest 



Road to Somewhere 

Hollywood, July 11. 

Bob Hope, after a short vacation 
on the golf links, checked out for an 
unannounced destination, somewhere 
on a war front, 

Accompanying the star on the 
overseas hop are Frances Langford, 
Barney Dean, Tony Romano and 
Patti Thomas, 



BOB BURNS TOURS MIDWEST 

Bob Burns leaves Los Angeles, 
Friday (14) for a nine-day tour of 
eervice hospitals in the midwest and 
southwest. ■-. , 

Actor will start at Tokepa, Kans., 
general hospital, July 16-17, ending 
at Chickasha, Okla., July 25. 



Earl Wilson's Entourage 
Had Heavy D.C. Sked 

Washington. July 11. 

Those Broadway entertainers who 
came here under the sponsorship of 
Earl Wilson, N. Y. Post "saloon col- 
umnist," had a busy day on Satur- 
day (8). -—7-—- 

Delegation included Jack Whit- 
ing, Jack Pearl, Zero Moste). Jack 
Pepper, Sam Jaffe. June Knight,' 
Diana Courtney, Johnny Johnson, 
Harry Green, Yvette, Johnny Skyler, 
Joseph Cotten, Harry Savoy, and Joy 
Hodges. Col. Charles Kerwopd. the 
Army Air Forces' most decorated 
officer, emceed the Washington mon- 
ument bond rally. 

Entertainers arrived at 7:30 a.m. 
Their schedule included: 1. Bond 
rally for 1,500 U. S. State Dept. em- 
ployees at noon. Undersecretary of 
State Edward R. Stettinius, Jr.. and 
Undersecretary of the Treasury Dan- 
iel W. Bell addressed the gathering. 
£.'. Luncheon at. the. Mayflower with 
the. War.. Activities, Committee of the 
TJist'ri'ct ras_ host. 3. Entertainment 
for wouriSed' soldiers" at' Waiter' ReedT 
hospital. 4. Reception for the Army 
Air Forces generals at Bolting Field. 
5. Entertained at the Washington 
monument. lot! 6. Visited the Stage 
Door Canteen at the Belasco theatre. 
They left on a special train at 1:30 
a.m. (9). ; : ." : ' "•'■--.''.:■/ 

During its four weeks' engagement 
the "Shot from the Sky" show at the 
Monument {.rounds was visited by 
500,000, sold more than $4,000,000 in 
bonds, or double its quota. It now 
takes to the road with its first show- 
ing in Connecticut Valley and the 
New England states. Then it will be; 
taken across the continent. During 
its stay in Washington the show was 
supported by 250 entertainers, most 
of whom came from Broadway. 



GAIL PATRICK'S TREK 

Gail Patrick is in Florida for a 
personality tour of general hospitals 
for USO-Camp Shows, Actress visits 
hospital in Jacksonville July 13 to 
15 and Miami Beach July 17 to 20. 

Grace McDonald and Lois Collier 
similarly will tour eight hospitals in 
California July 14-27. 



NEW LIBERTY SHIP, 
THE 'JOHN P. HARRIS* 

A new Liberty ship, built in Savan- 
nah, Ga., and to be launched there 
on Aug. 15, wiil be called the John 
P. Harris after the late Senator, 
father of John H. Harris, Pittsburgh 
showman and founder of the Variety 
Clubs. Mrs. John P. Harris, widow, 
will christen the new cargo carrier. 

A pioneer in show business. Sena- 
tor Harris entered the field as a 
ticket seller and treasurer, finally 
becoming a manager and then a thea- 
tre owner. , From this beginning 
shortly after the turn o£ the century, 
Harris developed the Harris, Amuser 
ment Co., now operating more than 
60 theatres in the Pittsburgh area. 
In 1922 he was elected to the Penn- 
sylvania Senate on the Republican 
ticket and was reelected in 1924. 

John H, Harris, eldest son, con- 
ceived the idea of the Variety Club 
in 1928, which has since become na- 
tional in character. In addition to 
the theatre circuit, Harris is presi- 
dent of the "Ice Capades." 



Somewhere in the Pacific; 
Writing a Broadway and Holly- 
wood column when : in one of these 
two areas may be ducky, but it re- 
quires a quick finger on the trigger 
to turn out such a column for read- 
ers of the South Pacific. That's what 
Robert Wenzel has learned in doing 
a ■ column six days weekly in the 
local Army publication, "The Six 
Shooter." Other tasks which . Wen- 
zel is called upon to do include the 
previewing of four motion pictures a 
week. And he refuses to be ham- 
pered' by the slight handicap of 
never having seen a majority of 
films. . 

"That's where the free distribution 
of 'Variety' comes in most handy," 
Wenzel writes. "By shuffling through 
daily and weekly issues, I frequently 
find your review or preview of the 
picture we are to Witness that eve- 
ning, and I base my review on the 
concensus. Sometimes I quote you 
verbatim, sometimes rewriting the 
trade lingo for better general un- 
derstanding." . , . ; ' * . 

There is a wide margin in the age 
of the pictures shown, Wenzel re- 
veals. Sometimes they are oiitstand- 
•mg^ld-ieSi-wWchJie^UemplsJa-pre 



view from memory. Sometimes they 
are so new thar~prints are on hand 
for showing before trade show or 
preview notices are available. 

"Buffalo Bill," "The Adventures of 
Mark Twain" arid "It Happened To- 
morrow" were three of the pictures 
Wenzel cited as reaching the battle 
areas 1 ' pronto. With only advance re- 
leases to base his writing on, the 
resourceful corporal turned to the 
star angle and tracing the motion 
picture history of principals and di- 
rectors and prayerfully assuming 
therefore that the latest films were, 
good 

"Your papers also give me straight 
news items of interest,"" Wenzel said. 
"Marriages sometimes or some of the 
humor are lifted mercilessly." For 
flesh shows Wenzel speaks highly 
of the Ray Milland, Joe E. Brown, 
Ray Bolger and Little Jack Little 
personal appearance ^stints in his 
area. They were the only Hollywood 
tours to reach there, and were en- 
joyed although most were given un- 
i Continued on page 42) 



Washington. July 11. 

Motion picture situation for the 
GI's overseas is improving steadily 
according to a survey just completed 
by the Arrriy Pictorial Service. Sur- 
vey shows that during the second 
year of the Overseas Motion Picture 
Service Branch. '.''."■;-■:' 

Men average three new films a 
week. .';.' '. ' ; ; .'-..-. .- .'•• 

On a typical night,, the Army 
shows the latest Hollywood pix- to 
almost 2.000 field units at stations 
around the world— and this does not 
include shows seen by soldiers in 
civilian, theatres, nor in Army the--, 
litres in the larger bases of Panama, 
Hawaii. Alaska, Newfoundland, Ber- 
muda or Trinidad; . : : 

Bottleneck of screenings has been 
broken during the past year by get- 
ting additional 16 mm. projectors 
into spots, where they were formerly 
lacking. In March, 1943, only 421 
projectors were available for units 
overseas. Now there are more than 
3,200, 

Audience strength has been lipped- 
proportionately. In the Mediter- 
ranean theatre alone, 14,757- shows , 
were screened in March. 1944, to 
audiences totaling -more than 6.2J5.- 
000. This compares with 1,543 shows 
in March, 1943, before audiences of 
1.226,000. 

The Army, according to the report 
by Col. EL. Munson, head of Army 
Pictorial Service, is also making 
films available in the field to other 
branches of the armed forces, to unU 
formed personnel of the Allied na« . 
tions, members of the merchant ma- 
rine and, in isolated spots, to the na- 
tives. "■'•:.; ,!'?•'..,.'. Vi"'. : , : . 
- War Department emphasizes- that 
the whiskered oldies, about which 
soldiers did. considerable beefing, had 
nothing to do with.the 16 mm. films 
given gratis by the industry, and 
points out that the globe-circling 16 
mm. circuit has world preemed sev- 
eral of the outstanding productions 
of 1944. Windup of the report em- 
phasizes that pix are '•excellent 



morale buncfers? 



Proj. Room Bond Preems 
Netted Over $4,500,000 

Over $4,500,000 in bonds have been 
sold by film district and branch man. 
agers during the Fifth Loan drive by 
holding war "bond' premieres of new 
pictures in projection rooms — an 
innovation begun in the Fourth Loan 
campaign, arid continued. 

Latest projection room premiere 
was held in Chicago recently where 
Allen Usher, Paramount district: 
manager, exhibited "Dr. Wassell" for 
prominent business and professional 
leaders who bought $3,136,000 in 
bonds for the experience, qt viewing 
the film in Par's projectiprf room in 
the Windy City. 

In Seattle, three projection rooms 
were used simultaneously for the 
showing of Paramount's "Going My 
Way." More than 200 persons each 
bought a $1,000 bond to attend. In 
Philadelphia, Earl W. Swetgert, Par- 
amount district manager, garnered 
$825,000 for a similar screening of 
"Going My Way," the total being 
realized from only 33 persons. C. J. 
Bell, that company's district mgr. in 
Los Angeles, sold $112,000 worth to 
44 persons who viewed "Wassell" in 
the projection room in that city. Still 
another $135,000 was realized from a 
screening of Sam Goldwyn's "Up in 
Arms" In Nfew -Haven, 



Show Biz People Run 
GI Open-Air Theatre 

■''„ ' ' • ' : Washington, July 11.. 

Number of former show biz people 
are running the "Volcano Bowl," 
open-air theatre'.' on New Britain 
Island in Southwest Pacific, which 
GI's describe as. '.'hottest spot on the 
island." Divisionaires, an Army or- 
chestra, conducted by Pete J. De 
Santis, of Glendale, Calif., former 
band arranger, furnishes . music. 
Many former name players are in 
the band. Emceeing the recent dedi- 
cation program -was Corp, Tommy 
Sanders, ex-Hollywood set designer. 

Among former dance-band men in 
the Divisionaires are PFC Don 
Hoehenstreider, guitarist; Tech. Sgt. 
Richard Beeks, Corp. 'Jack Walker 
and Sgt. Milton Fuller; De Santis 
has written two new numbers, "Big 
Island Jump" arid -The Hood from 
Milwaukee." 



Cornell-Aherne Team Up 
For Stock Jaunt O'seas 

American Theatre Wing War 
Players which is the stock to be sent 
to the European fighting front by 
USO-Camp Shows, is in rehearsal, 
first bill to be "The Barretts of Wim- 
pole Street," with Katharine-Cornell 
and Brian Aherne topping as they 
ri the original presentation at 
the Empire, N. Y., in 1931. Wing 
which is financing the stock issued 
a brief press release early this week 
after a Hollywood gossip columnist 
tipped off the identities of the leads, 
from there, Aherrie having arranged 
a leave* from Columbia pictures. ; : : 
In the War Players group are 
Guthrie McClihtic who staged "Bar- 
retts"' originally and who is the 
husband of Miss Cornell, Margalo 
Gillmoie, who joined the original 
cast after it opened, her husband 
Robert Ross, also a stager, McKay 
Morris and Brenda Forbes who, too, 
were in the original cast. As previ- 
ously stated each player is to receive 
$100 weekly from the Wing, USO 
and the Army, to supply transporta- 
tion and living quarters. There are 
to be 14 in the company, opening date 
to be announced after the outfit 
reaches its destination. Not certain 
.vhelher Miss Cornell will appear in 
other plays planned for the overseas, 
stock!- . „':."-. "", ., .""..' 



Acad Kudosed by Army 

Hollywood, July 11. 

War Dept. awarded a certificate of 
appreciation to the Research Council 
of the Academy ■ of Motion Picture 
Arts and Sciences for its part in. aid- 
ing the Army Signal Corps. 

Col. S. W. Stanley, who made the 
presentation, declared the technique 
of military training has been revolu- 
tionized by films turned over to the 
Army by the council. ' ... ■ ■■ 



L.A. to N.Y. 

C-b Calloway, 
"Wick" Crider. 
Helen Gahagan Douglas. 
Ed Fishman. 
Dick Gibson, - . ' 
Edward A. Golden. 
Joan Harrison. 
Joe Hazen. 
Abe Lastfogel. 
H. C. Mclntyre. ' 
Thomas Mitchell. 
Luis Van Kooten. 
Morris Safier. 
Martha Scott. 
Herbert Silverberg. 
Murray Silverstone. '.J- 
Francis Harley. 

N.Y. to L.A. 

'-lax Chopnick. 
Tom Connors. 
Jed Harris. 
George Jessel. . ' 
Spyro" Skouras. 
An-'y Smith. 
Fredrick Wakeman. 



Wednesday, July 12, 1914 



J^ROM THE 




OF THE INDUSTRY 





Gomes another great 
laugh-and-music smash 



Wednesday, July 12, 1944 





aramount 



Tops Record-breaking Grosses of Standing Room O 

and "Miracle of Morgan's Creek 5 



in First Dates of 



5> 



Never stop 'till your over the top 1 
Fighting Fifth War Loan ! 



Wednesday, July 12, 1944 



1 




BEATS "MIRACLE" BY 
28% AT WORTH, FORT WORTH 14% AT 
MAJESTIC, HOUSTON... 14% AT LINCOLN, 
LINCOLN. .15% AT MAJESTIC, DALLAS! 



BEATS "STANDING ROOM ONLY" BY 

26% AT ORPHEUM, OMAHA . . . 10% AT 
CRITERION, OKLAHOMA CITY! 



lngmg sis- 



_ — The swingy, zingy story of 

ters and the big, bad. bandleader who tried 
to make love to the whole darned family! 

With the stars of three great 1944 Paramount .^.^ 

comedies... all united in one super show! 

Dorothy I .amour 



' RIDING HIGH-ER" THAN EVER! 




Fred MacMurray 

__ WHO STOOD 'EM UP IN "STANDING ROOM ONLY" 



Betty 

'THE MIRACLE (<__ 

I Vf-O f^tfTh 

with \ JX<\\\<\ 



Hutton 

THE MIRACLE (Gal) OF MORGANS CREEK" 




SASSY NEW STAR OF "MIRACLE" 

andMIMI CHANDLER 

RAYMOND WALBURN • EDDIE FOY, Jr. 

Directed by GEORGE MARSHALL 

Screen Play by Mclvin Frank and Norman Panama » Based 
on * Story by Claude Binyon 



"No wonder they're going my way 
into the New York Paramount"— 

Opens today . . . following 10 record-break- 
ing weeks of "Going My Way." 






8 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, July 12, 1914 



Metro Dubbing All Pix Into Spanish For 
Latin America; 'N. Y.'s New Industry 



Swing towards dubbing American,-* 
screen product for the Latin-Ameri- 
can market received real impetus 
-t-his^veek-when .MiBtrn decided that, 
starting .with ''Gaslight," all subse- 
quent product would be dubbed into 
Spanish' Morton spring, acting 
manager of Metro's foreign depart- 
ment, revealed that the decision was 
made only after a year's research and 
preparation. Al Granti, former lab- 
oratory contact, has been prompted 
to head the foreign film processing 
department. -•'-..; -- : , 

All Metro's dubbing will be done 
in N. Y'., with indications that many 
other , major distributors likewise 
would dub in the east. While most 
other majors are not definitely com- 
mitted to Spanish-language dubbing, 
there is ev£ry, indication that they 
will also start Spanish and other 
foreign-language dubbing, making a 
brand-new industry for New York 
City.. 

20th-Fox is reported about ready 
to start dubbing on "Song of Berna- 
dette" for the Latin-American mar- 
ket, having a complete setup of dub- 
bing channels at the Movietone Stu- 
dios on the west side, N. Y. Warner 
Bros., which has done considerable 
dubbing into French for the French- 
Canadian market, is expected to be 
ready shortly on its Spanish setup. 
Universal has been carefully check- 
- ing the Latin-American dubbing sit- 
uation, and should be ready for an- 
nouncement soon. 

Other Producers' Plans :• .-' 
Paramount , has taken all the nec- 
essary advance steps in readiness to 
swing into dubbing when the green 
light is given. Company is saying 
nothing for the present, however, 
but understood the synchronization 
may be done on the Coast. United 
— ^Artis ts ' f o reig 4j-atepartmeht_aLw-ays_ 



Col. Fights Janet's Suit 

- y /' ; ; ' Los Atigeles July 11. 
CoTumbla" "enteTed"Tnbrie£-to- -fight- 
the suit riled by Janet Blair, de- 
manding release from her contract 
as a picture player. 

Actress' complaint declares her 
late manager, Alex 1'olden, made a 
secret deal, with the studio, without 
her knowledge or consent. 



Studio Contracts 



Lefty's Notebook 



has been keen for dubbing for this 
market. RKO also has been probing 
the situation for months, and prob- 
ably will reveal plans this week. 

While •American pictures continue 
as top screen product in the Latin 
Americas; Metro set up dubbing to 
answer the growing demand of pa- 
trons to hear their own language on 
the screen. Also not have to squint 
in following the super-imposed titles. 
Understood that the company is con- 
vinced that these synchronized Span- 
ish versions will create larger audi- 
ences, not only for U. S. films, but 
other product. Thus, it's believed 
that the dubbed American fare will 
react to the benefit , of all theatres 
because developing new patrons,. : 
Metro will have nearly every 
Latin-American country represented 
among the players of its stock com- 
pany of actors who work on sync 
versions. Explained that "Gaslight" 
and other features, as well as shorts, 
following in order of release date, 
likely would not be ready for dis- 
tribution possibly until first of next 
year. Metro is reported well under 
way oh "White. Cliffs" at its N. Y. 
plant. Biggest task to date has been 
to get a voice capable of filling the 
role of Margaret O'Brien, one of 
company's new stars. 

What Was Wrong Heretofore 
Recalled in N, Y. that American 
efforts /at dubbing were unsuccess- 
ful. But pointed out just why. 
First," all productions were dubbed 
. 'Spanish in Spain, and the Latin- 
American audiences did not go for 
that type of ..Spanish accent. Sec- 
ondly, titled versions of U S. prod- 
uct went to Latin-American market 
first, Awaking the dubbed versions 
appear to be reissues. . ■'.'.';■'■ ' . ,• 
Warners' experience in dubbing 
into French is expected to put them 
in shape to go into Spanish-language 
work when the okay is given. Com- 
pany is reported having several vets 
with experience in handling Spanish 
synchronization work. ' • Company is 
reputed to be in line to recoup dub- 
bing costs on French versions on dis- 
tribution in Canada alone, with rev- 
enue from North Africa and other 
French markets regarded as velvet. 



Record $285,000 Gross 
Struck on Limited 3-Day 
Runs in 37 RKO Houses 

A new wrinkle in the marketing 
of an advanced-price picture was 
the deal which 20th-Fox made with 
RKO permitting latter to have "Song 
of Bernadette" for only three days 
rather than for. the long half of . the 
week or for an entire week regard- 
less of the circuit's desire's. 

As result of the terrific , gross 
shown on the dating in 37 metropol- 
itan N. Y. RKO houses, 20th-Fox 
feels it's a cinch to go back to the 
circuit for seven-day runs or the 
long halt: when the film is ready for 
general release. Never done before, 
restricted deal with RKO was nego- 
tiated by A. W. Smith, Jr., general 
sales manager for 20th, and Ray 
Moon, N. Y. branch manager for the 
company.: : •.•?:. v.;:.; 

In ; consequence of what 20th-Fox- 
ites regard as smart handling on a 
high-admission picture, it obtained 
a terrific rental on "Bernadette" on 
a three-day run, while RKO also got 
theirs. 

Dated into the 37 Greater N. Y. 
RKO houses July 3-4-5 .(including 
Independence Day), "Bernadette" 
grossed $285,000 to establish a new 
high for RKO houses on a short half, 
which under the playing unit system 



Skouras, Connors, Et Al., 
End H'wood Powwows 

Hollywood, July 11. 

20th-F6x sales executives, headed 
by Tom Connors, will wind tip con- 
ferences with Spyros Skouras, Joe 
Scli enck. and Darryl Zanuck ■■ tomor- 
row.; (Wed.) on. .'setting first six 
months of the 1944-45 program; , 

Group will leave for east immedi- 
ately at close of huddles, . • 



represents orily~3rt0thr~o1^he-weelc; 
whereas the long half over a Satur- 
day and Sunday is 7/lOths against 
overhead. The "Bernadette^ deal in- 
cluded a guarantee of 12 1 ,i *Ti. 

Sold at 70% of the gross against 
the guarantee and employment of 
the point system, rental back to 20th- 
Fox on the RKO deal ran to $199,500. 
RKO houses charged 76c matinees 
and $1.10 evenings, while for kids 
price ranged from 40c to 55c. 

Available»nowhere except at 70% 
straight and at raised admission 
scales, "Bernadette" in 470 runs 
prior to the RKO deal, brought back 
a rental to 20th of $1,800,000. This, 
together With the returns on the 
RKO circuit dates, brings the rental 
to date to the amazing sum of $2,- 
000,000. 

In setting up. the 37 runs on "Ber- 
nadette," Harold Mirisch, RKO's film 
buyer-booker, tossed in the Alham- 
bra and Regent, located in the heart 
of Harlem, with a view to testing it 
among the colored trade. The busi- 
ness in both houses turned out very 
big. 



Hollywood, July 11. 
Gloria Hallward inked player pact 
at Metro, ■ 

,'■ Alfred Drake checked in at Co- 
lumbia on an. actor contract, 
' Helmut Dantine renewed by War- 
ners. ' .;••'■.'.;•'' :•''■';'■:'*•■< 
Luc ille Casey, actress, signed by 
Metroi*" " " " : ' ; * 
■ Nina Foeh, optioned, Columbia. 

Betty Jane Graham, cover girl, 
20th-Fox. 

. Stephen Richards, actor, renewed, 
Warners. '.';,■'-*• 

Reginald Le Borg, director, re- 
newed, U 

Lynne Bagget, player, optioned, 
Warners. 

Lubov Roudenko, ballet dancer, 
Columbia. '" 

Albert Dekkar, renewed, Par. 

George Brent, two pictures, RKO. 

Ted Tetzlaff, cameraman; RKO, 
with right to direct one picture per 
year. ' . 

Will Jason, director, renewed, Col. 

Exhibs Combine 
Vs. Roadshowings 

Major circuit operators and im- 
portant indie exhibitors are pressur- 
ing distribs to discard roadshowing 
films at advanced admissions, be- 
cause of the reluctance to alter per- 
manent house policies. , Theatremeri 
have been putting on the squeeze 
for a year, and now their strength 
has reached the point where distrib 
execs are unable to battle against 
a virtual ban on roadshowings. 

Although given roadshow treat- 
ment, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and 
"Song of Bernadette" were limited 
in bookings, and latter has had a 
difficult time getting any bookings 
on this basis, circuits holding off un- 
til film becomes available at regular 
scale. ' . - .•'.;. 

"Wilson" and "Since. You Went 
"A~way"-aTe. the only two films com- 
ing up Which are set for-roadshow 
deals, reason being that producers 
Zanuck and Selznick feel the pres- 
tige of the pictures will be enhanced 
by tipped prices. Circuits already 
have begun balking on these two 
high-budgeters, and film men are 
watching with interest to see how 
many roadshow dates each can ob- 
tain even with pressure — selling 
shoving them across the board. 



By Joe Laurie, Jr. 

♦ ♦ ♦ t ♦ ♦ 1*f ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ f 4 M « ♦ 



DENIAL OF GARY COOPER 
REISSUES JAMS EXHIB 



y 

found itself without a bill at the last 
minute this week When Paramount 
yanked a couple of Gary Cooper 
oldies, "A Farewell To Arms" and 
"Lives of a Bengal Lancer/' 

Pictures were to have Opened Sat- 
urday (8), and had been extensively 
billed for some time, but apparently 
nobody at Par remembered until late 
Friday 1 7 ) that Cooper, in the revi- 
vals, Would be playing competition 
to himself at the Penn in a first- 
runner, "The Story of Dr. Wassell." 
Whereupon exchange hastily called 
Doc Rubin, operator o£ the Art 
Cinema, and told him there had been 
a mistake, and that ' no prints of 
"Arms" Or' "Lancer 
at. this time. 
". As a result, Rubin had to hastily 
kill ad : layouts for, papers and out- 
door, advertising, and was forced to 
hold over flop, bill of ,- Race Suicide" 
and "Should a Girl Marry'?".' . ■ V 



Pittsburgh, July 11. 
Art Cinema, foreign film theatre 
here which lately has been going in 

age in its- regular pTocuTcl; suadtnT'y*' tn 'f re ean save lm a week's allot- 



CHI DAILIES RATION 
ALL AMUSEMENT ADS 

Chicago, July 11. 
Paper shortage has forced Chi 
dailies to limit space on all amuse- 
ment ads. Rather than getting together 
and working out a standard plan for 
all, however, it's been every paper 
for itself. The Chicago Times and 
Tribune limit according to lineage, 
the former limiting loop theatres to 
50 lines per day, and outlying thea- 
tres to five lines daily and 10 lines 
Sunday, and the latter setting a 
maximum of 8 lines per day for but- 
lying houses. The Sun, operating on 
90% "of its former space quota, allows 
theatres with openings to splurge, 
while theatres with holdovers have 
to take what's left: Just to be dif- 
ferent, tlje Herald American budgets 
its space to all equally, opening or 



theatre can save up a week's allot- 
ment and blow it on one big ad. ° 

Chi Daily News, strictly a family 
newspaper which has never gone in 
for much amusement advertising, Has 
placed no restriction on space. 



Us Extra $1 Divvy 



'"■. , '' : •:';•--.■':*•• •:'; ; ; ; ':.;.'•" ;" '-. .'•."';,-: ,.,.-.-'■ ,.'-: : ■ Cool acres, "est. .";' 

Dear Joe: V:.'. ■"''-,'",.. , • ■"'■• ;. ■ ',.'•'.'.'■ ■" '.'■ '■ 

The death of Blanche Dayne (Cressy arid Dayne) recalls to mind the 
many great sketch artists of vaudeville. I mean sketch artists who were 
really part of vaudeville, who didn't jump in frbm legit and just use 

vaudeville as an insurance against flop shows. . , . / .._' ■' ... ' s . ■ <r : . 

Of course, there were many great legitimate actors who played skits . in 
vaudeville for many seasons and were very popular, but the ones I mean 
were practically raised in vaudeville and stuck to it, Many of them did 
the same skit for years. The performer wasn't always to blame; many 
times he would' try out a new sketch which the bookers would see in the 
raw and say, "Put on the old one and I'll give you a route." The old acts 
were surefire and the bookers took no chances. Vaudeville fans were a bit 
to blame, too, for the sketch artists not changing their acts, although the '- 
fains; would come out afterwards laughing their heads off and say, "Same 
old stuff. " But they loved it. And not without reason. 

If you ever witnessed Willard Simms, in "Flinder's Flat," putting 
up the wallpaper, you'd never want to see him in anything else. The 
same goes for Murphy and Nichols in "From Zaza to Uncle Tom." 
Grade Emmett in "Mrs. Murphy's Second Husband" was a wow and did' 
the act all over the world for over 25 years. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Thome 
in "Uptown Flats," which was the original version of "Bibs and Bibs,"- 
did the same act for over 25 years. Alexander Carr in "The End of the 
World," Or better known as "Toplitzky Sez," was played by him and - . 
Nat Carr for years. Alex later did an acj called "April Showers." 
but v it never was the hit "Toplitzky" was. Julius Steger in the "Tenth 
Commandment" ran for years. George- Beban in 'The Sign of the Rose" 
was the only act he ever did in all his years in vaudeville.' White and 
Stewart in "Cherie" also' ran for years. Also William Courtleigh in 
''Peaches." ; '.;'...'''• ."•'..-; ..'■'•.■>'/.'. "':;•';.' ;.'•';• ... '•'■:"..;•.■'' ,' ■ ■'''.'•■ : ";. , v ' '..'.''■ ?••■'• •■' 

Then there were the sketch artists who brought many new acts to 
vaudeville, changing every few seasons. Among these were Cressy and 
Dayne, but they will be remembered by "The Wyoming Whoop." Cressy. ^ 
also wrote hundreds of acts for others. Valerie Bergere was another artist. ' 
who brought many acts to vaudeville. Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew, with 
their "Predestination,'' "Yellow 'Dragon" and "Billy's Tombstones,'*; will 
never be* -forgotten. There were also Mr. and Mrs. Gene Hughes with 
"Suppressing the Press" and "Youth" and a halt dozen others by Mrs. 
Hughes.. George Kelly was one of the most prolific of all sketch artists, 
giving "Finders Keepers," "The Flattering Word," "The Show Oft'"' and; 
dozens of others. George was the writer of his own stuff, and a great One,.;., 
too. In this same class we must put the dean of sketch artists, J. C. N agent. 
With his unforgettable "Meal Hound,'' "The Squarer" and "The Rounder." 
They blacklisted him, so to get even he wrote "Kempy" and started out as 
one of our popular playwrights, , 

Mason and Keeler. one of the tops of sketch artists, brought plenty of 
new stuff to vaudeville Hermine Shone would have a new act every other 
season. Stevens and Hollister with their "Out in California" and dozens 
of other skits were a vaude fixture. Agnes Scott and Harry Keene played 
two skits all the years they were in vaudeville, "End of a Perfect Day" • 
and "Drifting:" Imhof, Conn and CoTirme tried many acts* but they gained . 
fame with the biggest laughing act in show business, "The Pest House" 
and ^gt. 'Louder.'' Hugh Herbert^ the actor, was a writer of many skits 
for himself and others, but "Son- ot Solomon" stands out above 'em all. 
Emmett DeVoy wrote and played many skits. .* 
Other Great Sketch Artists 
i Bert Leslie, the "king of slang." had many sequel sketches to his 
i "Hogan in Society" and "Hogan in London!" Ryan and Ritchfield also 
had a series of sketches, "Mag Haggerty's Reception," "Mag Haggerty in 
Society" and others. McConnell and Simpson in "Stormy Period" and 
many others were great favorites, Middleton and Spellmeyer, in "Lonesome 
Land," specialized in western skits. Homer Miles was a writer of his own 
sketches; "The Innocent Bystander" was one of his best. MaCart and 
Bradford with their "Younger Generation" and "Legitimate Holdup" were 
great. Tom Nawn;with his "Pat and Geni" and "When Pat Was king" was 
a classic. John C. Rice and Sally Cohn had many skits for vaudeville, but 
their "Dentist" was tops. Louis Simon and Kathryn Osterman in "Persian 
Garden" and Simon's "New Coachman" were big hits. Of course, the 
unforgettable sketch of Frank Keenan's "Man to Man." 

John B. Hymer in "The Devil and Tom Walker," with his expression of 
"Come On, Red," was one of the great skit men of vaudeville, Charlie 
Grapew'in .and Anna Chance, in their classic, "Awakening of Mr. Pipp" 
was a honey. Taylor Granville and Laura Piermont in their big acts were 
terrific. Hallen and Fuller presented many sketches in vaudeville. So 
did Robert T. Haines, and Bessie and Harriet Hempel. Claude and Fanny 
Usher in their "Spareribs" sketch, were tops. Whipple and Huston did a 
couple of great sketches, ' "Spooks" and "The Boot- Shop." Try to get 
Walter Huston to sing "Money" for you! ," .'".; 

So many more great artists come to mind — Jarvis and Harrison, Mack . 
and Walker, Hymans and Mclntyre, who all did sketches with songs and 
dances. Robert Emmett Keane and Claire Whitney were in many skits, 
Edwin Holt in "The Mayor and the Manicure^" Dave Ferguson in "The 
Rounder." Ed Hayes, "The Wise Guy"; Bill Halligah, "Somewhere in 
Jersey" and "High Brow, Low Brow." Franklyn Ardell in "The Suffra- 
gette" was a wow. Arty and Puggy Havel in "Playmates" and O'Brien- 
Havel Co. in "Monday" were grand. William Gaxton in "Kisses," Harry 
Green in. "The Cherry Tree,"- Charles Withers in "For Pity's Sake" were 
classicsi- ''.':'.' -;;''; ; ''•'.-• :; ;' ' ; • '.' •; '-.'- ■' '■ ~* <■.'■ 

I could go. on for pages, but this will kinda coasiapft^ex tliat WJ*^»f« , * i ' 
a'na'.flfefjcar® And now they'-re all 

gone. No more shall we see the "center door fancy," the "kitchen set," the 

"rich man's home" with rubber plants m gold pots, gold chairs and even a 
gold sofa, yeh, and even real carpets -on the floor, the revolver in the 
drawer of the sideboard, and always, and I mean always, the bottle of 
Scotch, and the telephone also oh the sideboard. No sketch was complete 
without those props. ..',;* "'''-.,. 

And now they are all gone, and so is Blanche Dayne. A fine artist. But 
the memory lingers on. SEZ ' . Lefty. 



Universal directors declared, an ad- 
ditional $1 dividend on common 
shares, at the meeting held last week. 
It makes $2 already paid or declared 
payable this year. Declaration was 
in the nature of two divvys, each 
for; 50c. . '.'■; ■.'.. .■,;' ' ' : "'■■' .':...- ; '■.'■.'? '.'" 
One dividend covers, the corpora- 
were 'available | tipn's third quarter arid is payable 
July 31 to stockholders on record 
July 19. The other 50c divvy is for 
the fourth -quarter, and is, payable 
Get. 31 to stockholders on record 
Oct. 16. '•'-.';-;'''■; ■:■' ■ v.. ' 



LUBIN'S 'STAK' L0AR0UT 

Hollywood, July.'. 1.1. ■■ 
Charles R. Rogers, indie producer, 
borrowed Arthur Lubin from' Uni- 
versal to direct "High Aniong. the 
Stars," slated . to start next month. ' ', 
Jane -Powell starret was originally 
tilled "Reaching for tne Stars."" 



WalHs' English Prod.? 

Hollywood. July 11. 
"Love ' Letters," novel by. Chris 
Massie to be published this fall, Will 
be Hal Wailis' first picture for Par- 
amount. 

Producer is mulling ic'ica for mak- 
ing it in England.. Ayn Rand writing 
script now. 



N Y. Rivoli, Other Keys 
Cue 'Frenchman's' Terms 

"Frenchman's Creek," in which 
Paramount is said to haye' $3,60.p,00S 
invested, not including prints, -is 
headed for a pre-release engagement 
at the Rivoli, N. Y., in August, with 
probably four or five other selected 
dates in October or, November prior 
to determining the .general release 
policy. A print of the picture; is 
scheduled to reach N. Y. next Thurs- 
day 120), when it can be viewed 
by homeoft'ice - execs for cont'abing 
on plans in connection, with it; 

Backed by', long-range publicity- 
aclvertising, ..- "Frenchman's. Creek" 
will'not be releasee) generally until 
after the firrt of the year, according 
to tentative plans. 



Koerner, Lieber Doe East 

Charles W. Koerner, v.p, of RKO 
ill charge of production at the studio, 
and Perry Lieber, his publicity di- 
rector, will leave Hollywood July 21 
to attend the 13th annual sales con- 
vention, of RKO, to be held 'at- the- 
Waldorf-Astoria, N. Y., July 24-26. 

Company i.s only one holding a na- 
tional convention. . 



Z. Korda Back at Col. 

Hollywood, July '11. 
■ Zollan Korda has signed to go back 
with Columbia on a one-picture deal 
to. direct "Countei'-Attack." It was 
iirst bought for him when he. origin- 
ally, inked pact w.ith studio. 

He will assemble' cast' immediately, 
and expects to have production start 
early in August, 



V&RMETY 



Wednesday, July 12, 




WORLD PREMIERE -CAPITOL THEATRE -JULY 20th 



6 . .8 j 



David O. Selznick 

, <0: : ^ " presents . , ;; : 

the screen's most distinguished cast in a 
story of today's love and laughter, v 
; hopes and dreams 




loswh con^ 



Went Away 



. The producer's first production 
since "Gone With the Wind" and "Rebecca" 



Produced by David O. Selznick 

Directed by John Cromwell 

A Selznick International Picture 

; Released thru United Artists ' 



Shirley TEMPLE 



10 



Wednesday, July 12* 1911 





Wednesday, July 12, 1914 



PICTURES 



11 



Metro Seeks to Help Subsequents 
Balked by Long 1st Runs— Rodgers 



Analyzing.all its accounts Individ- 4 
ually to determine whether terms 
should remain static, be raised or 
decreased, Metro is meantime seek- 
irig.-to work out some kind of plan 
which will meet the problems faced 
by many subsequent-run houses in 
the larger cities. William F. Rodgers, 
y.p. in charge of sales for* the com-. 
. pany, stated at'a tradepress luncheon 
last Thursday (6) that an attempt 
will be made to correct the situation 
as affecting sub-runs in keys, where 
pictures . are being: held over for a 
long time in the first-run theatres. 
He doesn't know yet what shape the 
plan will take.. , ' ; . 
; Subsequent-run . operators have 
long complained that extended runs 
are milking the pictures as well as 
making them old by the time they 
are' available after varying clear- 
ance periods. 

Rodgers pointed to the campaign 
Metro put On some months ago de- 
signed to aid any smalltown opera- 
tors who . were hard hit by the war 
and local conditions. Company ap- 
propriated $125,000 for use in help- 
ing the little fellow who needed, it. 
Found, however, that there was not 
so much need for help in the little 
towns, as had been supposed, and 
some exhibs, who had been reported 
by branch offices to be in desperate 
shape, informed Metro that ttieir 
; pi i glVt wasn't quite that bad. 

.1.00% Representation ; ' 
',. . Overwhelmed .because; Metro re- 
ceived 100% .'• representation' on 
screens, of over 16.000 theatres dur- 
ing company's 20th anniversary 
week.' including .theatres- ''Metro- had 
, never; been able to sell. Rodgers de- 
clured he is going- to try to sell these 
accounts something bearing the. Me- 
tro, label, even if it'sjCtst a subject 
iioiv end then. Noting that "we 
don't want to be strangers," the | 
Metro sales chieftain is augmenting | 
the department headed by JH. M. 
Riehcy. exhibitor relations director 
for the company, so that closer and 
more complete contact may be main- 



EDDIE JOSEPH CAUSES 
TEXAS CLEARANCE JAM 

Austin, July 11. 
Eddie Joseph has returned here 
from Dallas where he walked out 
on his own arbitration case which 
was. being heard; This is the, first 
known" time that a (puddle has been 
caused in the arbitration' dealings 
under the consent decree. Joseph 
reportedly walked out 10 minutes 
after the hearing was called to order. 

He had asked for clearance for his 
Yank and. his two Drive-In .Theatres. 
The other local houses are operated 
by Interstate Circuit and two. inde- 
pendents. R. S. Pryor and Elmo Heg- 
rasn. Latter two were intervenors. 
. Thomas E Jackson was appointed 
as arbitrator and a hearing date set. 
Jackson soon- withdrew and Louis B. 
Lefkowitz was named to handle the 
hearing. A few hours before the 
hearing Joseph asserted that, he had 
information which he. claimed would 
disqualify Lefkowitz as an arbitrator. 
Joseph voiced the objection that Lef- 
kowitz was a brother-in-law of Fred 
Florence of Dallas, president of the 
Republic National Bank and a 
business associate of Karl Hoblitzelle 
piez of Interstate. He also objected 
to the fact that, he would not have 
gotten a fair hearing in view of the 
presence of two high-priced lawyers 
as well as Hoblilzelle and other key 
Interstate men at the . hearing in 
Dallas.;'; /..v.;' : 

Case was dismissed against Joseph 
but court costs were assessed 'on him. 



Par Editors Hustling 

Holly wood, July 11.. ' . 
. Cutting staff at Paramount is at 
its busiest, using the shears oh 12 
features,- two Technicolor shorts and 
two Army training films. 

Features include "Bring On the 
Girls," . "Incendiary Blonde," ''Prac- 
tically Yours." "Murder, He Says," 
"Kitty," "Two Years ' Before the 
Mast," "Here Come the WAVES," 
"The Road to Utopia;" "Out of This 
World," "A Medal for Benny," "And 
Now Tomorrow " and. "Her Heart In 
Her Throat." ■-.,.;• ■, '..'■"-' 



tained 

Metro has , no specific, number of 
pictures in mind for the coming 

■ 1 1944-45) season but will release 
product as fast as completed and 
tradesho wings can be held. At pres- 
ent selling, a block of only two pic- 
tures, all that was recently available, 
following prior blocks of five. 12 and 
12. the deliveries this season (1943- 
44) appear to be 32. this including 
"White Cliffs of Dover" which has 
just gone on sale under a separate 
deal, and "Dragon Seed" which will 
be available similarly this year. 
Prints on "Seed" are being shipped, 
this week and tradeshowings nation- 
ally will be held July 20-21-28. 

■ Like "Cliffs,"; this one will be sold at 
regular admissions. "An American 
Romance." now ready, will be de- 
layed, for release ufttil October to 
permit extensive promotional plans 
on it meantime, Rodgers stated. 

Several By Sept. 1 
Metro's sales manager believes that 
he may have-several pictures ready 
by Sept. 1 or. sometime during the 
month but does not as yet know 
what the leadoff block will be. 
"Seventh Cross," "Barbary Coast 
Gent." "Lost in a Harem" and "Mrs. 
Paikington" are likely early-season 
availabilities, while later on there 
'. will be "Kismet," "Marriage Is a 
Private ^Affair." S'Mais'ie Goes to 
Reno". ayA ";;t""' J\a -.o. ■; St '. , Louis 



Patent Owner Loses 

Suit Vs. Film Firms 

Ruling that Columbia Pictures, 
RKO Pictures. Big U Film Exchange, 
Universal Film Exchange and others 
did not Infringe on certain patents, 
N. Y., Federal Judge John Bright last 
Wee1s~nT'i ' Tirsnrissed -sai'r- bronghtr-bj-— fa-i-led 
David E. Schayer. owner of the pat- 
ents. Involved in the action were film 
splicers and rewinding machines, 
which trie film defendants had leased 
from the. original patent owner, the 
Film Automat-ie Machine Corp., in 
19:17. ;' y c '.,.; '/.',,. ;•/ 

Schayer had claimed that as owner 
of '.patents, purchased oh a foreclos- 
ure sale, in 1940, he was entitled to 
the assess and leases of the machines 
which 'the. defendants' were. using and 
operating, atjd that use by the com- 
panies was an infringement of> the 
patent rights. : :•-'.. 

In-dismissing the suit, Judge Bright 
ruled that Schayer is; only entitled 
to, the patents as of the date of fore- 
closure sale. The assets of the corp., 
which we're' .being administered by.a 
receiver, we're not included in the 
sale of the patents.' 



U. S. to Intervene 
In Goldman Vs. WB 



Philadelphia. July 11, 
The Government yesterday (Mon.) 
stepped into the William; Goldman 
case. ;.''•;.'••'■!'"' '• ' ■■ 

Through the Department of Jus- 
tice, the Government asked the U. S. 
Circuit Court of Appeals for permis- 
sion to intervene as a "friend of the 
court" in the $1,350,000 damage suit 
filed by Goldman,- -Philly indie,-! 
against Warner. Bros, and the major 
distribs. The Government claimed 
that the principle of anti-trust law- 
enforcement was involved. 

Goldman, operator of a string of 
theatres here and upstate, is appeal- 
ing" from the decision of' Federal 
Judge William A.- Kirkpatrick who 
dismissed the suit last April 8. 

Goldman had claimed that the de- 
fendants had -violated , the Sherman 
anti-trust act in 'refusing 'to ."supply 
him with product for the Erlanger, 
midtowri theatre, which Goldman 
has under lease. Their refusal. Gold- 
man . charged, was' the result of a 
conspiracy and caused him to suffer 
damages amounting to $450,000. He 
| asked triple damages, allowed under 
| the anti-trust laws, and an injunc- 
tion asking his house to be placed on 
equal basis as Warner first-run the- 
atres.;. -.rfV.;. ' : ■'■'", v;..^ «">'•';'■' 

Judge Kirkpatrick ruled, in dis- 
missing the .suit." that Goldman had 
to . show tha-t— thete-r-was -a ivy_ 
resiraint of interstate, commerce or. 
any heed for more first run theatres 
in Philly. He conceded that- Warners 
held a "commanding position" in the 



Duties of Metros McLeod, Victim 
Of Train Wreck Jay Be Divided Up 



CIRCUS DISASTER CUES 
THEATRE FIRE DRILLS 

- > Ottawa. July 11. 

Circus disaster at Hartford had im- 
mediate reaction in Canada when 
Motion Picture Theatres Association 
decided on upped .attention to fire 
drills for staffs and flje. precautions 
in houses. MPT meetings were called 
in all cities and managers agreed to 
stiffen staff drills and enlisted coop- 
eration of fire departments in check- 
ing safety equipment. 

Similar reaction followed Boston 
niteiy blaze but precautions dropped 
back to routine after a few months. 



"L. A. Plans New Circus Laws 

V Los Angeles, July 11. 

New fire regulations covering 
outdoor attractions are contemplated 
here as a result of the burning o£ 
the Ringliiig Bros, circus tent in j 
Hartford. 1 ' .. ; ';. ;\ : 

City council . ordered the Public ! 
Safety Committee to study and re- - 
vise the present fire laws. ;•'•."': ..'', j 



$50.0110 Chi House Fire 

1 Chicago, July 11. } 

Flames swept the Apollo here 
early this (Tues,) morning shortly 
after all .patrons had left- the Bala- 
b.an &; Katz Loop house. Fire was 
discovered in the dome of the house, 
high above the 'theatre seats, by a 
maintenance crew just afte.r closing 
around 12:30 a.m., but before it could 
be gotten to flames had burst through 
the roof. Fire is said to have been 
started by crossed wires in an 18- 
foot air space between the ceiling 
and the roof of the dome. 

Damages are estimated at $50,000. 
Water damage to sound and projec- 
tion equipment, rugs and furnishings , 
will necessitate the closing of the j 
house for repairs. 



WB's Custard Pie Revival 



Hollywood. July 11.. 
Stapf.tick : antics ; performed by 
'Mack Seunett's merry troupers in 
silent days are being revived by 
Gordon Hollingshead at Warners in 
, a series of shorts with modern 
sound effects: such as the splashing 
I. of- custard pies., 

I ,Reijdy for release is ''Once Over 
, .. . i.ieh'tlv and others will be mide at 

^4^^*far J ' UiW i mm m. ********** 

Rodgers said he would | bought the material from Seiinett 
years ago, ; ' -.': ;-;"•' 



exhibition of first run films here, but 
declared that any monopoly — if it 
exists —was purely "local" and had 
no effect on interstate commerce. . 

It is understood that the Govern- 
in en I position in the Goldman case 
will be the same as the consent de- 
cree case pending in New York 
against Paramount and the other 
majors. ; ■* . . . ';. ; - ,'.''-."".;*■':.., -'. .'.'..";. 

"The. outcome of the Goldman case 
will have an important effect on en- 
forcement of the Sherman act." said 
Wendell Burge. assistant to the U. S. 
Attorney General, in announcing the 
Government's intention to intervene. 

Defendants in the Goldman case' 
are Warner. . Bros. Pictures, Vita- 
graph.' Stanley Co. of America. 
Warner Bros. Theatre Management. 
Loew's. Paramount. RKO. 20th-Fox. 
Columbia.. Universal Corp.. Univer- 
sal Film Exchanges and United 
Artists. ;; • -. '": ■'' .' 



Robinson Fic.to ^Follow 
Cooper's Int'l Release 

Wilh its initial production "Casa- 
nova Brown" (Gary Cooper) set for 
an Aug. 1 national release date and 
a -N Y. preem at Radio City Music 
Hall early in September, --following 
Metro's "Dragon, seed," Interna- 
tional Pictures this week announced 
that the Edward G. Robinson starrer. 
"Woman in the Window," would be 
the second release by the company 
through RKO.: probably in late Sep- 
tember or early October. . 

"Belle of the Yukon," starring 
Gypsy Rose Lee, which originally 
was to be the second production from 
International, will be held up until 
November for RKO distribution... to . 
be followed by the Sonja Henie film, 
"If's a Pleasure," slated to go into 
production next Saturday (15).! 



indefinite. 

like to get back to packages of 12 
because it is more convenient to sell 
and buy that; way. Though it was 
recently -reported "American Ro- 
mance" would be roadshpwm with 
such plans' understood to have been 
discussed. Metro's sales head said 
that roadshqwing is not needed, in 
his opinion, to emphasize importance 
of this or other pictures. He is also 
opposed to. advanced admission 
scales. '. / 
Metro is continuing to self under 
the sliding-scale formula but while 
pictures are designated after being 
contracted for, the films: can- be 
priced when they become available. 
Rodgers reminded that even if in 
some cases pictures are designated at 
prices which it' is known will result 
■n loss against negative and sales 
costs, this is done because the alloca- 
}'on is in accordance with the value 
or the picture to the theatre con- 
tracting for it. Metro is continuing 
voluntary cancellation privileges and ! nounted this 
sees no problem in this connection. > "Take II" i 



Tied in With Decree 

■ . . Washington. July 11. : 
Interest of the Justice Dept. in the 
suit brought in Philadelphia by Wil- 
liam Goldman Theatres,; Inc.. against 
Warner Bros, and 10 other produc- 
ing companies is directly , tied in 
. with the Big , Five motion picture 

if Goldman loses his case, which 
he has appealed from an adverse de- 
cision.iii the U; S. District Court, the 
Justice Dept. "will face a tougher job 
in the consent decree case, since the 
issue of picture release dates to in- 
dies is vital in both matters. 

If; on the other hand, Goldman 
wins, it Will make the Government's 1 
job easier in the event it goes to 
court in the Big Five case, The Jus- 
tice Dept. will know in a day or two 



No Arms for WB Shorts 

■ Hollywood. July 11. 

Peace' is the watchword for War- 
ners', shorts program for 1944-45. 
with all reference to war eliminated 
from 98 . briefies and cartoons. War 
subjects were prominent in last 
year's schedule but Jack L. Warner 
decided no! to compete with' the 

War Activities shorts, which carry j whether the Third Circuit Court ap 
official information. 



Olcott Pics Theft Suit 

" Hollywood, July 11. 
Plagiarism suit against Charles R. 
Rogers and Joseph Tushinsky is be- 
ing transferred from New York to 
California ,by Ted Wilde, following 
his arrival here. Wilde charges pro- 
ducer and writer with taking his 
story; "My Wild, Irish Rose." and 
seeks 50">. of Tushinsky's gross in 
connection with film which amounts 

in salary. 

Yarn is based on life of Chauncey 
Olcott! J bul is not yet filmed. 



New program will be devoted to 
musicals, comedies, novelties and 
other light subjects 



20TH'S AUGUST DUO 

'Take It Or Leave It" and "Wing 
a Prayer" are the two 20th-Fox re- 
leases set for August, William J. 
Kuiipei. general sales manager, an- 
week. ' '" ■ ■ "' < 



ft ... x---«.^..i m nus tuimcuiun. , mu- M the musical based oh 
«oclgei-s commented. The company's ! the radio quiz show, starring Phil 
accounts, under its own plan. ' have- ' Baker. ""Wing" is the Jerome Cady, 
cancelled only where they had good [ storv based on ' Slmy of Carrier 

X," with Don Ameche starred, , 



proves its request to intervene and 
file a brief in the Goldman matter, 
Consent is expected to be given. 
Justice Dept. people here feel the 
lower court ruling can and will be 
reversed. \ ••■...'.'■ 



reasons. 



Rep's Permanent Show Set 

Hollywood, July 11. 

Republic is building a permanent 
theatre set on one of the two new 
sound stages now under construction 
on the lot. .-'■'. ' - 

New set will be required by the 
heavy list of filmusicals 1 on the pro- 
duction program, 



Bogeaus Lot Booked Solid 

Hollywood. July 11. 
General Service studios will be 
filled to capacity for the next 18 
months, ' according to Benedict 
Bogeaus. owner of the lot, with four 
high-budget pictures currently in 
work and. commitments signed. for 13 
more. 

Before : the cameras are "Dark 
Waters." a Bogeaus production, Bing 
Crosby's "The Great. John L.." Hunt 
.Strom berg's "Guest in the . House," 
and Lesier Cowan's "Tomorrow the 
World." ' : . -.;-,.'. ':, : :": ; ; ■:. 



The job of supervising exchanga -';•; 
operations in Metro remains open 
following last week's death of Jack - 
S. McLeod, killed in the wreck of 
the Santa Fe's crack train,- the 
Chief, early on Tuesday (4). The 
work, embodying branch personnel, : -- 
labor matters, maintenance, etc, 
probably will be split up among 
members o£ the Metro homeoffiee \ 
distribution department for the time 
being at least. 

Alan F. Cummings, who formerly, 
divided the exchange operations v ; 
duties with McLeod, and has been 
on the sick list for' more than three, 
months, volunteered to come . back . : ; j; 
but wafs told to take car*; of his 
health instead. Since Cummings 
fell ill. McLeod had been carrying 
the entire load, for Metro. . .' 
;■ But for the volume of work on 
McLcod's shoulders, Which had de- 
layed his trip to: the Coast, he would 
no doubt be alive today. He had • . , 
planned„going West when William F. '■'• 
Rodgers, v.p. over sales, made the 
trip several weeks ago but couldn't 
"get away. Then, subsequently, he , ' 
had adyised Mrs. McLeod on the ; ; 
Coast that he would arrive on a 
given date, only hours later having 
to cancel those plans. 

As a result, he pulled out of N. Y., ' 
July 1, and arrived in Cliicago the. 
next day without a reservation but >• 
was. unfortunate enough through; . . .' 
Metro's Chicago office to get, one : . 
that day. on the train which killed 
him. McLeod was making the trip 
west not only on business for Metro . . 
relating to Coast exchanges but also 
to meet Myda, his wife, in Los An- » 
geles. Mrs. McLeod had been in - 
San Francisco, her home town, with 
a sort by.a former marriage who as 
result of Va'- infection had lost one 
eye and, it was feared. would lose, 
the other. They lived at the May- 
flower hotel in N. Y. 

" Four Killed 

M cLeod was among four, a fire- ' . : . 
man and three passengers, w no per~ T -- 
ished in the train wreck 18 miles 
from Williams, : ,. .<;■:.'-' -. 

Born in Scotland and 59 years of 
age. McLeod at one time worked for 
the Illinois Central R.R., was a 
salesman: for an office supply com- 
:'pany. and entered :he film business . 
in 1915 as assistant auditor for the 
Sawyer Film Co. Less than a year 
later he joined the old Metro com- 
pany in the auditing department uti- : : 
der Charles K. Stern, now assistant 
treasurer of Loew's. In 1929 he was v 
appointed head • of film and '..ex- .'•- 
change maintenance for Mel iq. sub- 
sequently taking on added duties . 
wjtivCummings in operation of the ' : • 
company's exchanges. Not only did 
McLeod establish exceptionally .., -.'. 
favorable labor relations for Metro 
and the industry, but was very , 
widely liked and respected with • 
Metro executives frankly admitting 
they are at a loss to replace him. 

In addition to his widow, deceased 
is survived by a son, Donald S.. who 
Is office manager for Metro in- In-; 
dianapolisr two brothers, David R, 
and Ross P., the la'.ter in charge of 
the. company's warehouse in N. Y.; 
a sister, Mrs. W. Thuman of ' the 
Bronx; two grandchildren. Betty 
Lee and John S. II; and four 
nephews and one niece. . " 

Funeral services were hold ; yes- 
terday afternoon (Tuerday i - f at 

with, inierment in the tanniy plot in - 
Scarsdale. N. Y. "'. ,..'.-': 

-Among those injured in the train 
wrecu and previously reported by .; ., ;' 
"Variety" was M'mi i^orsylhe screen ','-.•: 
actress appearing in "Sensations of . ; 
1945," and in private life is the wife .,'-, ; : 
of Benedict Bogeaus, United Artists 
producer. She suffered a fractured 
wrist and body injuries. • ■ : 



HEDY'S DATED DUDS 

, ; Hollywood, July 11. 

Hedy Lama rr goes in for period 
costumes- lor: the first time at RKO 
in "Experiinent Perilous," starting 
this week, .. ''. ' 

Jacques Tourneur directs, with 
Paid Lukas 'and- George Brent shar- 
ing top male roles. .. 



3d and Final Columbia 
Sales Powwow in Frisco 

Homeoffiee .executives of Columbia 
Pictures left N. Y. over the weekend 
to attend the third and final sales 
meeting scheduled to open -today 
(Tues.) in San Francisco. This sales 
confab, at the St. Fruncis hotel. July 
11-13, will cover Denver. Los An- 
geles, Salt Lake City, Seattle. Port- 
landt and Frisco exchanges; District 
managers/ branch managers and 
salesmen from these territories will 
attend.: ':-.-■'.."'.'••!'••'■' 

Group from N. Y. going to th« 
convention was headed by Jack 
Cohn, A. Montague, Rube Jackter, 
Joseph A. McConville and Joe Fried- 
man, •'..' ',-■■■' 



Walter Winchell says in the NY, Mirror: 

■ . ■ '-/■:• ::. (*nd syndicates); 



"Theatres that exhibit 



THE MASK OF DIMITRIOS 



can turn off 
their cooling 
systems. 



"THE MASK OF DIMITRIOS"., greenstreet . scon . emeJ 



§0 vi >m we jor trim dMwmiW moon. kktr. 'mchUkc huh » ar hoads: 



Wednesday, July 12, 1944 



is 






PETER VICTOR . Directed by JEAN N EGU LESCO • Screen flay by Frank Gruber . From a Novel by Eric Ambler 

W • LORRE • FRANCEN • JACK L. WARNER, Executive Producer • Produced by HENRY BLANKS 



14 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wednesday, July 12, 19 1 1 



H.0.s Best in L. A.; 'Sensations' 55G 
In 4 Spots, 'Glory' Fair 34^G in 2, 
'Ghost' Big 9G, 'Mask' 33G, 3 Spots, 2d 



"••})\ Los Angeles, July 11. * 

':' Biz continues strong despite num- 
ber of holdovers. "Sensations of 
1945" looks good $55,000 W total for 
four "theatres, but not up to recent 
takings in these spots. "Days of 
Glory," another new entry, is only 
so-so' $34,500 in two theatres. "Ghost 
Catchers" is nifty $9,000 in one 
house. Second frame of "Mask of 
Dimitrios" looks solid $33,000. in 
three spots. "Dr. Wassell" is excel- 
lent $26,000 in two locations on lifth- 
final week. ■ '••'■ 

••Christmas Holida,/." after landing 
terrif $75,800 in four houses last 
week, shapes hefty $20,000 on move- 
over in three spots. Deanna Durbin 
starrer racked up best biz of- any 
Universal picture here on' its initial 

session. ; .*'.■' ■ ■ >; ;. V ;'::'■' ! .:".:\' 

Estimates for This Week 
Cailliay Circle (F-WC) (1.516; 50- 
%)) — "Sensations of 1945" (UA) and 
"Attack" (RKO). Good $7,000. Last 
week, "Christmas, Holiday" (U) arid 
"Allergic to Love" *U>, great $10,500, 
over hopes. 

Chinese (Grauman-WC) (2.034; 50- 
$1 1— ."Sensations of 1945" (UA) and 
-Attack" (RKO). Average $13,000. 
Last week, "Christmas 1 Holiday" .(U) 
and "Allergic Love," smash $18,900, 
considerably over expectancy. '',■■'■'. 

Downtown (WB) i 2,034;. 50-$U— 
"Mask Dimitrios" (WB) (2d wk).' 
Nice $14,000. Last week, nitty $19,- 

200. . . :=.'•:• •;••> 

Egyptian (F-WC) (1.535: 5(J-$1)— 
"White ClifTs" (M-Gi (3d: wk). Solid. 
$12,000. Last week,' way over esti- 
mates at sock $14,200. 

Four Star- (UA-WC). (900;. 50-8!>)— 
'•Christmas Holiday" (U):arid "Aller- 
gic to Love" (U ). Stout $4,500. Last 
week, "Two Girls Sailor" i M-G) and 
"Bermuda Mystery" (20th); power- 
ful S6.300. - .•■>:.•• ■■ V ;.-■ 

Hawaii (G&S) 0,100; 50-$D— 
"Ghost Catchers" <U) and "South of 
Dixie" (Ui. Big $9,000. Last week. 
"Voice in Wind" (UA'' and "Natzy 
— r^5aTTte 1 M^A^teyi-r\vl<-f--^day^ 
okay $2,200. 

Hollywood (WB) (2,756: 50-$l)— 
"Dimitrios" (WB) (2d wk). Fine 
$10,000. Last week, hefty $17,700: 

Los Angeles (D'town-WC> (2,200; 
50-$l)— "White Cliffs' (M-G) '3d 
wk). Great $26,500. Last week, socko 
$29,700. ■• '. "• :' :- 

Orpheum (D'town) (2:200: 65-99)— 
"Sailor's Holiday" (Col), with Hcnny 
Youngman and vaude unit on stage. 
Light $17,000 or near. : Last week, 
"Follow Leader" (Mono), with Hol- 
lywood Canteen Kids orch on stage, 
good 1 $18,200, one .'night out for bond 
preem. ' 

Pantages I Pan') (2,812; 50-$l)— 
''Days of Glory" (RKO) and "Seven 
" Day's Ashore" (RKO). Okay $16,500. 
Last week, "Snow White" - ; . (RKO) 
i reissue) and "Gildersleeve'.s Ghost" 
(RKO) (2d wk-9 days), nice $11,200. 

Paramount (F&M) (3,389; 50-$D— 
"Dr. Wassell" (Pari (5th wk). Prof- 
itable $16,500. Last week, handsome 
$20,400. 

Paramount Hollywood (F&M) (1.- 
451: 50-$D— "Dr. Wassell": (Ear) (Sth 
wk).. Fancy $9,500. Last week, great 
$11,600, topping third sesh. 

RKO Hillstreet iRKO) (2.890: 50- 
80)— "Days Glory" (RKO ) and 
"Seven Days Ashore" (RKO). Only 
average $18,000. Last week.- "Snow 
White" (RKO) (reissue) and "Gilder- 
sleeves Ghost" (RKO) (2d wk-9 
davs), nifty $19,200. 

RitK! (F-WC) (1.372; 50-$U— "White 
Cliffs" (M-G) (3d 1 wk). Solid $10,- 
500. Last week, big $11,600. 

State (Loew's- WC) (2.204; 50-$l)— 
"Sensations 1945" (UA) and "Attack" 
(RKO). Trim $27,500. Last week, 
"Christmas Holiday" (U> and "Al- 
lergic to Love" (U); boff $35,400. 
• United Artists (UA-WC) (2.100; 
50-$l>— "Christmas Holiday" (U) arid 
"Allergic Love" (U). Hefty $10,000. 
Last week, "Two Girls Sailor" (M-G) 
and "Bermuda Mystery" (20111), ter- 
rif $12,000. 

Uptown (F-WC) (2,296; 50-$l)— 
"Sensations 1945" (UA) and "Attack" 
(RKO). Average $7,500. Last week; 
"Christmas Holiday" (U) and "Al- 
lergic Love" (U). solid $li;000: 

Wilshire (F-WC) (2.296; 50'-$!)— 
"Christmas Holiday" (U) and 1 "Al- 
lergic Love" (U). Good $5,500. Last 
week, "Two Girls Sailor" (M-G) and 
"Bermuda Mystery" (20th), hand- 
some $9,800. despite a bond preem. 
. ••: Wiltern (WB) (2,500; 50-$lV— "Dh 
mitrios" (WB) (2d wk). Nice $9,000. 
' Last week, hefty $13,400. ' ' 



Broadway Grosses 



Estimated Tola! Gros» 
This Week . , , $51 1,200 

(Based on 13 mcvues) 
Total Gross Same tVeeK 
Last Year. . $490,000 
i based on 13 theatres 



'Holiday' Great 
196, St Louis 

•''-- . '■'■ -- ' '". St. Louis, July 11. 

Standout currently, despite heat, is 
"Christinas Holiday," great at Am- 
bassador. "Make Your Own Bed" 
also. is strong at the huge Fox,, . »."*"• 

Estimates for This Week 
. Loew's (Loew) (3,172; 35-55) — 
f Wbjte Cj.) fts" (M-G) (3d . wk). Will 
add another fine $15,500 to swell $19,- 
500 of second stanza. 

Orpheum (Loew) (2,000: 35-55) — 
"Two Girls SailOr" (M-G) and 
"Black Panther" (Col) (3d wk). 
Okay $6,800 after surprisingly neat 
$7,200 in second week;: 

Ambassador (F&M) (3.000; 50-60) 
—"Christmas Holiday" (U) and "Yel- 
low Canary" (RKO). Great $19,000. 
Last week. "Home in Indiana" (20th> 
and "Candlelight Algeria" (20th); 
sock $20,000. 

Fox (F&M) (5,000: 50-60)— "Make 
Own Bed" (WB) and "Jungle Wom- 
an" iU). Big $20,000. Last week. 
"Mask of Dimitrious" (WB) and 
"Smith Dixie" (U). $16,400; fine. 

Missouri (F&M) (3.500; 50-60)— 
"Touhy. Gangster" (20th"i and "Yel- 
low Rose" (Rep). Good $9,500. Last 
week, "Pin-Up Girl" (20th > and 
-^Sbaa'—Bu'sihes s" (RKO). (2d wk); 
•big $8,400. ":. .-.-v ..■•'. : ■ 

St. . Louis (F&M) (4,000; 40-60)— 
"Fleet's In" (Par) and "Favorite 
Blonde" (Par) (reissues), $5,500, 
above average. Last week; "Up in I 
Arms" (RKO) and "Passage Mar- j 
seille" (WB), nice $6,800. 



'SHOW BIZ' ROBUST 
15G, PITT. STANDOUT 

... Pittsburgh, July- 11. 
Only two new films this week — 
"Story ot Dr. Wassell" at Pcnn and 
"Show Business" at Stanley— both 
doing okay. ■'■':'- 
Estimates for This Week 
Fulton . (Shea) (1.700; 40-65) — 
"Home in Indiana" (20th) (3d wk). 
Dropping .harply after- two sensa- 
tional weeks, but not losing dough at 
$4,500. Last week. 5 at $9,400, film- did 
even better, with the Fourth holiday 
•helping, than in first session. 

Harris (Harris) (2.200;: 40-65)— 
"Pin-Up Girl" (20th) (2d wk). Looks 
solid $9,500 on wind-up. Moves to 
Senator Last week, great $15,000. 

Penn (Loews-UA) (3.300; 40-65)— 
"Dr. Wassell" (Par). Got off to big- 
gest start in years here, but won't 
maintain pace. Trim $22,000, or near, 
and euou'fih for holdover.. Last week, 
"While. ClifTs" (M-G) (2d- wk),. big 
$19,000 in 6 days. 

Rite i WB) 1800; 40-65)— "Mask Di- 
mitrios" (WB) (2<1 wk). Moved from 
Stanley. Sad S1.8Q0. Last week. 
"Made Mc a Criminal" (WB) and 
'-•Brother Rat" iWB) (reissues), fair 
$2,300. ■ ■. '■•••'.:".'■■: 

Senator ' i Harris) 1 1,750: , 40-65)— 
"Girls Under. 21" (Coll and "Girls of 
Road"'-' i WB) (reissues). ' Fairly, good 
S2.800. Last week. "Stagecoach" (UA) 
(rer-sue ), fine $3,600. ■• ,: .- ' 

Stanlev iWB) ( 3.800; 40-65) — 
"Show . Business" (RKO); Eddie 
Cantor picture well liked. .looks $15,- 
000. m lie h belter than average lor 
straight picture- here. Last week, 
"Mask Diinitrios" (WB), a dud, 

sn.ooo. .' V- '••■,■••-••'•■-.■-':.' • : 

Warner (WB) (2.000; 40-65) — 
"White Cliffs'' (M-G) (3d wk). Here 
from Peim. and still going strong. 
Hefty ¥9.000': Last week, "Two Girls 
Sailor'- (M-GV (3d wl<) : and "Attack" 
( RKO) 1 2d wk good: $6,000. ■; 



'My Way Giant $25,000 in Better Det.; 
'Goodnight'-Sher wood-Rochester 33G 



Key City Grosses 

Estimated Total Gross 

This Week ... . ,.»3,261>.!>00 
(Based on 23 cilies, 183 i)ie«- 

tres, chiefly first runs. .tnefiidiiiB 

N Y.) ;."•>'"■'■: '.V.:-' : " 

Total Gross Sam* Week 

Last Year ...;....-. . S2.»;;,2u0 
(Baited on 26 cities, 187 theulres) 



'Ape' Ru?^ $15,000 
In K. C; 'Raiders' Big 
UG^Wasseir 13G,2d 

'.:' '' Kansas City. July 11. 

Bk at theatre.? is spotty this week, 
with holdovers at two. Leading new- 
comer is "Hairy Ape." linked with 
"She's a Soldier" at the Midland. 
"M.-irhie Raiders" is comparati vely. 



'Show Biz' Forte 
$22,500 Phillyji 

- ,-■-.' - . ■; ■ - - : i f 

Philadelphia. July 1L 
Torrid wave, now in its second un- 
broken week, not denting biz of top- 
drawer product featured this sesh. 
Lightweight, films are being hit hard. 
"Going My Way," now in second 
semester at Mastbauin. is leading the 
gate derby by several laps. Runners- 
up are openings of "Show Business" 
and "Once Upon a Time." 

Estimates for This Week 
Aldine (WB) (1.303; 40-85)— "Snow 
White" (RKO) (reissue). (2d' wk). 
Satisfactory $11,000 alter smash ,$15,- 
500 initialer. : ■ '•'. '.- ■■'•.'-•■ 
Arcadia (Sablnsk.v) (.600;- 40-85) 



', Detroit.- July n -- . 

I New bills, hitting'big grosses, have 
put Detroit back in top-flight -class 
despite heat waves and ;vacafioik 
"Going My Way,"- coupled 'Vitii 
"Henry Alcjrich's Secre!," is oft for 
what looks like a new •' record and 
long run at the United Artists. "Gas- 
light" and "3,Men in White." at (lie 
Michigan, and "Touhy,: GaiigMer " 
and "This Is Life," at the Fox both 
look strong. Downtown is bark in 
tall coin with "Goodnight. Sweet- 
heart." and Bobby Sherwood baiid 
and Rochester heading the : .-1aj>c 



Berke's Pacts Unjammed 

- '. ■ Hollywood,, July. II. 

Wiiliain Ber.ke inaiieuvered . him- 
self out of a three-contract traffic 
jam with three separate studios.-. ; .' - 
.After straightening things out, the : 
lineup is like this: first director job 
is "Betrayal From the East'' for 
RKO, second is "Dangerous Passage" 
for Pine-Thomas, and third oir the 
! 'si Is an untitled picture at Colum- 
bia. - ■ ■'■ --. '•' - ■ 



Tarents'-'Algeria* Fast 
11G, Denver; 'Raiders' 
14% 'Indiana' 20G in 2 

.Denver, July 11. . 

Biz picked up soon after the 
Fourth; With some totals currently 
best in several weeks. "Home in In- 
diana" is outstanding day-dating 
Denver and Esquire; "Are These 
Our Parents" and "Candlelight in Al- 
geria" are giv ing Paramount its best 
week since January. "Marine Raid- 
ers" also is One at Orpheum, and 
way ahead of la.st week; 

Estimates for This Week 

Aladdin (Fox) (1.400; 35-74)— 
"Follow Boys'*. iU) and "She's Sol- 
dier, Too" (Col), after week at Den- 
ver. Esquire. Good $6,000. ., Last 
week. "St Mark" (20th) and "Ladies 
Washington" (20th), in.o.. sad $4,000. 

Broadwavx (Fox) (1,040; 35-74) — 
"Private Hargrove" (M-G) and 
"Curse Cat People'* (RKO), alter 
two weeks at Orpheum. Fine $4,500. 
Last week. "Snow White" (RKO) 
(reissue) and "Passport Destiny" 
(RKO) (2d wk), inoveover, thin 
$3,000. '* 

Denham (Cockrill) (1.750; 35-74) - 
"Dr. Wassell"' (Par) (2d ; wk). Nice 
$11,000. Last week, smash'$16.000. 

Denver (Fox) (2,525; 35-74)— 
"Home in Indiana" (20th) and "Se- 
crets Scotland Yard" (U) day-date 
with Esquire. Big $16,000. Last 
week, "Follow Boys" (U) and "She's 
Soldier, Too" (Col), also Esquire, 
N. G. $9,000. 

Esquire (Fox) (742; 35-74)— "Home 
in Indiana" (20th) and "Secrets Scot- 
land Yard" (U). also at Denver. 
Strong .84.000. Last week. "Follow 
Boys" (U) and "She's Soldier, Too" 
(Col), also Esquire, sad $2,000. 

Orpheum (RKO) (2.600; 35-74)— 
"Marine -Raiders".' (RKO) and "Gil- 
derslecve's Ghost" (RKO). Fine 
S14.500. Last week. "Private. Har- 
grove" i M-G) and "Curse Cat Peo- 
ple" i RKO). fair $11,500. 

Paramount (Fox) < 2.200; 35-74)— 
"Are These Parents" ', (Mono), and 
"Candlelight Algeria" (20th). Hc*fty 
$11,000. . best since early this year. 
Last week. "Lady. Let's Dance" 
(Mono) and "Call South Seas" (Rep), 
poor $6,000. 

Rialto i Fox) (878: - 35-74)— "St. 
Mark" . .i 20th)'. -and "Ladies Washing: 
ton''. 1 20th). alter week at Denver. 
Esouire. Aladdin. Trim $3,500. : Last 
week. "Mabel's Room" (UA) and 
"Sciu'lct Claw".(U), moveovcr, poor 
S2.000. .- ' - 



as. '."strong at -smaller. Orpheum. 
"Home in Indiana" stays, day-and- 
date at Esquire, Uptown and Fair- 
way after sock initial round. "Dr. i 
Wassell" is steady at Newman- after 
terrific initial, stanza. '..' . ' ' 

Estimates for This Week \:'.\-\ 

Esquire. I'plown and Fairway 
( Fox-Midwest) (820: 2.043. and 700; 
45-651— "Home-', in Indiana" (20tfli) 
(2d v.ki. Lush $11,000 after spec- 
tacular $19,500 opening, over expec- 
tations. ":.'."'' 

Midland iLdew's) (3.500; 40-60 )— 
"Hairy Ape" iUA) and "She's Sol- 
dier" i Col). Stout $15,000. Last 
w.eek, "While Clifls" (M-G) (2d wk), 
fancy $13,500. 

Newman . i Paramount ) (1.900; 45- 
65 )— "Dr. Wassell" (Par) (2d, wk). 
Strong $13.0011. First week hit $19,- 
500, better than hopes, ' '.?; ••'.- 

-Orpheum (RKO) (1.500: 46-65)— 
"Marliie Raiders" (RKO.) and "Lou- 
isiana Hsvride" (Coll. Potent $11,- 
000. Last week. "Snow White" 
i RKO i i reissue) and "Yellow Ca- 
nary" (RKOl (2d .wk I. brisk $11,000. 

Tower i.Fo.v-Joftce) (2,100:39-60)— 
"Jam Session" (Col) and "Slightly 
Terrific" (U) with vaude. Lusty $11.- 
000. Last week. "Lady, Let's Dance" 
(Mono) and "Yroeaderb" (Rep) plus 
stage revue, about- same, :.'.-• 



show. 

;-.;' Estimates for This Week ; '■■ 
A(dams (Balaban) (1,700; (ifl-85 
Home in Indiana" < 20th > (2d wk) 
and •"Pardon ;Rhythm". (U). Former 
moved over from Fox, brisk $11 (ioo 
-,ast week, "St. Mark" i20tli) and- 
["Louisiana Hayride" (Col) (2d wk) 
good $10,000 on similar m.o: ' - ' 
Broadway-Capitol (United Detroit) 
(2,800; 60-85)— "Dr. Wassell" iPju i 
i and "Lady, Let's Dance" ( Mono i t'4th 
■wk). Okay $9,000 after, last weeks 
I bright $13,000. -V 

Downtown (Howard Hughe*) (2 . 
I 800: 60-95)— "Goodnight. S\veetlieart" 
I (Rep) and Bobby Sherwood inch 
j Rochester, on stage. Great $33 000' 
j Last week,- "Lady Monster" '( Rep) 
and Ada Leonard orch on stage, nice 
$21,000.. . :;• ': -.'■ '.;' :',' , 

'Vox. (Fox-Michigan) f 5.600: 60-85) 
—"Touhy, Gangster'' 1 201 h i • and : 
I "This Is Life" (U). \:Gan«sU''i' Mulf 
, looks big $38,000. Last sveek.: "l'lnnie 
'.'Impostor" (U) (2d rim I, Sad $3,009: : in Indiana" j.(20th) and "Allergic 
Last week: "Make Own Bed" ( WB). | LoVe" (U), great $37,000. ' ' 
fairish $4,000 second run.- ':'■: "■ ■'■■'[ Madison (United Detroit) 1 1*800: 
Bov.d (WB) (2.500: 40-85)— ."Oiice 60-85)— "Madame Curie." i M-G) and 
Upon Time" (Col).. Mild $20,000 plus | "Saludos Amigos" (RKO). Back' in 
fair $2,50.0 for one-day stand, at Earle. j loop at strong . $5,300, . Last 'iveek,' 
Sunday (9). Last, week: "Gaslijihl " j "Uninvited" (Par) -and i "Fighting 
(M-G I. fine $17.500- for third canto, j Soabee.s" ( Rep ), bright $5.000.. 

Earle (WB) (2.760; 50-951— "Scar- j Michigan (United Detroit'! (4-000' 
let Claw" .1 U ). with Eaiie Hine.s orch I 60-85.)— "Gas liaht" (M-G) and : ' "3 
and Louise Beavers in person; Sal-. I Men in White" (M-G). Stronj; $27 - 
isfactory $23,500. Last week. "Ghost I 000. Last week. "Meet People" i'M- 
Catchers." iU) and Abe Lyman band. G) and Jerry Wald oi ch on ' stage, 
okay $20,000. '■'."-'..'•"-'. nice $31,000. 

Fox I WB ) (2.245: 40-85)— "Show ,i Palms-State' (United Detroit V i.'i.- 
Business" (RKO). Panned by.erix, 000: 60-85)— "2 Girls Sailor" iM-Gl 
but- looks , nice $22,500. .Last : week. and "Night Adventure" (RKOf i2d 
' Home— ui— I-nd-ra-H-a-^— tiSM+H, — g-ootl— xv -k4; — Pi rre-*l-f}r000- trH^r-l-rttst-wTx-iri;,- 



$18,900 

■ Karlton (Goldman) 
— "Angels Sing". (Par) 
$7,000 
(Part 



stout $19,000. 

(1,000: 40-85) United Artists (United Detroit) 
(2d'run). Nice (2.000; 60-85)— "Going Mv Wav" 
Last week. "Lady in Dark .ip ar ) and "Aldrich's Secret" . i Par), 
hefty $9.000- for second run. > Terrific $25,000 and may hit new i'ec- 



Keith's (Goldman) (2.220: 40-85)— 
"St. Mark" (20th) (2d run). Pallid 
$4,000. Last' week. "Davs of Glory" 
(RKO). S4.800 second run, 

Mastbauin (WB) (4,692; 40-85)— 
"Going My Way" (Par) i2d .wk). 
Terrific $45,000 [or this round on 
heels of suoer $55,000 for opener plus 
torrid .S4.500 for. one-day Eai'le'; show- 
ing on Sabbath. -■ 

Stanlev (WB) (2.915: - 40-85')— 
"White Cliffs" i M-G.) (3d wk). Fancy 
$18,500. Second week, great' $26,300. 

Stanton (WB) f l.475: 40-85 •--"Co- 
bra -..Woman" <U). Bullish $12 500; 
Last week. "Hitler Gang" (Par), fair 
$8,500 second sesh. 



ord. Last week, "Hargrove" i M-G) 
and "Gambler's Chance" (Par) < 3d 
wk); slipped to $10,000 on wind-up; 



'Bill' Torrid 13G, Monti 

Montreal, July 11. ' 
• Brace of good pictures will be 
hurt by torrid heat wave, but. "Buf- 
falo Bill" is 'certain of smash session. 
Estimates for This Week 

Talace (C'T) (2.700; 30-62 )-^.-.'5hfW 
Business" (RKO). Lush $1 1,000. 
Last week. "Private Hargrove" (.M- 
G). $10,500.' - "--'-. 

Capitol iCT) (2.700m 30-62)— "Meet 
People" (M-G) and "Night Adven- 
ture"' (RKO). Succulent $8,500. Last 
week, "Two Worlds" (WB) aiid "Men 
on Mind" i PRC ). $8,000. 

Loew's iCT) (2,800: 35-67)— "Buf- 
falo Bill" (20th), Even heat won't 
bring this much below smash $13,- 
000, Last week. "Gaslight" tM-G) 
(3d wk), neat S7.500. 

Princess (CT) (2.300: 30-52)— 
"Snow White" (RKO) (reissue) (2d 
wk). Sighting smart $6,000 after 
clicko $6,500 ihilialer. : 

. Si rand (United Amusements) (715; 
35-45)— "Something Sing : About'' 
(PRC) and "Beau Hunks'* (PRC). 
Average $2,700. ' Last .week, "Man 
Frisco" (Rep) and "Call South Seas" 
t Rep irsnappv-. $2,800, ' 

Orpheum 'CT) 1 1.100; 35-45)— 
"Blanche Neige at lcs.Nains" ("Snow 
White") i RKO) (reissue) (2d wk). 
Fat $5,000 after capacity. $5,500 
opener. ' " ' ' : "'. 

. St. Oeuis "i France-Film) (2,500: 30- 
1 40)— "Ces. Messieurs de la Sante" 
and "La Bete mix Manteaux." Fair 
$4,000. Last, week, "La Tragedie Im- 
periale." and .'Tout Va Bien, Mme 
La" Marquise." $3,500. ' ' '. " 



'Time' 19iG, 'Raiders' 
16iG, Both Tall, Prov. 

■ " Providence. July .11. 
"Going My Way" is still solid in its 
filth week at the Strand. Also hit- 
ting the peak among the, new ones 
are "Once Upon a Time." at Loew's 
State, "Marine Raiders" at RKO AJ- 
bee and "Mask of Diinitrios" at Ma- 
jestic. 

: ; Estimates for This Week 
Albee (RKO) (2,100: 44-55-601 — 
"Marine Raiders" ( RKO) and "Twi- 
light Oil Prairie" (RKO).. Starting 
second week .today, First stanza, 
wow $16,500. 

'"■KSixAion" (Fay-Loev/I 1 1:400; '44-".5>' 
—"Home in Indiana" (20t h)' and VCa- 
sanova Burlesque" (20th > (3d down- 
town wk). From Majestic; nice. $5.- 
000. Last week, "Somewhere Find 
You" (M-G) and "Shake Hands Mur- 
der" (20th) (2d run), good $4,000. 

Fay's (Fay) (2.000: 44-55)— "Man- 
power" (WB) (reissue). Average 
$6,000. Last week. "Cowboy Senori- 
ta" (Rep) and "Make Own Bed" 
(WB). nice $7,500. .' 

Majestic (Fay) (2.200: .44-55)— "Di- 
mitrios" (WB) and "Aliergic Love" 
(U). Off to nice start for likely $15;- 
000. Last week. "Home in' Indiana" 
(20th) and "Casanova Burlesque" 
(20th): (2d wk), nifty $12,000. 

Metropolitan (Snider) (3.100: 55- 
60)— "Good Night, Sweetheart" 
(Rep) and Glen Gray orch. on stage. 
Three-day weekend run, disappoint- 
ing $4,000. House has been {lark for 
several weeks and wits opened for 
this run. ''•'.' .. *'. • 

State (Locw) (3.200: 44-55)— "Once 
Upon- Time" (M-G> and. "Stars On 
Parade" (M-G).. Solid $19:500. Last 
week. "White 'ClifTs"* (M-G) (2d wk),' 
nice $14,600. ', : .'.-', 

Strand (Silverman) (2.000: 44-55)— 
"Going My Way". (Par) iRth wkL 
Still jamming them in tor surprising 
biz.' Great .$12,000. . Fourth week, 
'snappy $15.000.,' '.. •:.' ; /• 



'Cliffs' Lofty $15000, 
Pacemaker in L'ville; 
'Show Biz' Bright 12G 

Louisville, July 11. 
Tprind .weather currently is- mak- 
ing a slight dent in downtown biz., 
j OPT's newspaper adman iti.ons. aiient 
! using unneeessary gas' and crowded 
■ t'ains are keeping patrons- in tow.n 
over -weekends. "Wivite Cliffs 'of 
Dover.'', is catching top: trade at 
Loew's State, and looks sturdy 
! enough for hio. "Show Business" at: 
i the Rialto is shaping very good.' and 
i "Hitler Gang" at the Strand is- pulU 
I ing nicely. ■ ;: 

Estimates for This Week; 
Brown (Loew's-Foiirth Avenue) 
M.400; 40-60)— "Dr. Wassell' (Pai). 
Fine $4,000 on moveover. Last week. 
! ')lome in Indiana" -" • 20i.h ), third 
downtown week, solid $5,500. . 

Kentucky (Switow) (1.200: 30-40) 
—"Hargrove" (M-G) a nil "Ladies 
Courageous" (U). Okay as seeorid- 
run at $1,600. Last week. "Passage 
•Marseille" (WB) and "Swing Fever ' 
(M-'G). $1,700. 

Loew's State (Loew's) (3.300: 40- 
60)— "White Cliff " (M-G). Class of 
the town, solid $15,000: probabe hold- 
over. Last week, "Two Girls Sailor" 
(M-G) and "Undergromid Guerrillas" 
(Col) (2d wk), nice S10:000. 

Mary Anderson (People's) : ( l.Oflfll 
40-60)— "Brother Raf" < WB) (reis- 
sue). Medium $3,500, Last week. 
"Mask Dimitrios" (WB). -$4,000'. ■'.■' 
- National (Standard) 1 2.400; 35,-75)' 
—"Whispering Footslnes" ->Rep) and 
G. I. Revue from Fort Knox. Kv-. 
split with "Bernadotte" < 20th f ' at: 
$1.10 top. Soldier show did. fairish 
biz, and nice b.o. looms lor road 
show film. Possible j'ood S8.000. oke 
for summer. Last week, '•Dr'imi'-- Fu. 
Manchu" (Mono) and Rcnfro Valley 
Barn Dance Revue snl.it with ,"Ar,nv". 
(WB) at regular prices, good . $7,000- 
Rialto (Fourth Avenue I m 3:400: 40- 
60)— "Show Business" (RKO) ti'« 
"Night Adventure" (UV. Solid $12- ■ 
000, despite heat. Last week. "Di. 
Wassell" (Par), robust. $13,000 and 
moveover. * ■ ■ , '• '•:-'■ ■■■ -. 

Strand (Fourth Avrn-ue) ■( 1:400: 40- 
60)— "Hitler Gano" (Par) and "Gnm- 
hler's Choice" (Par). Sn.!endi( | S'6.- 
500. and possible b.O. Last- week. 
"Touhy, Gangster" 1 201 h) aii.d. "J.a- 
dies Washington" (20th ), oke .$4 000 : 



Wednesday, July 12, 1944 



PKriety 



PICTURE GROSSES 



15 



Chi FuU of H.0.s: 'Way Big 63G in 5th 
Pius Nelson, 'Jam-Duncan Sis Hot 29G 



Chicago, July 11. 4 
^ ''Going My Way," held for a fifth 
weefs at the Chicago, with a new 
stage shotv headed by Ozzie Nelson, 
is the first film to play the Balabah 
& Katz flagship over lour weeks. Re- 
ceipts nave~"been—phenomenai— and;- 
$63,000 is looked for in fifth stanza. 
' Dead End," reissue from Fitrh Clas- 
sics, .with "Dixie Jamboree," will 
bring the' Grand up to lusty $9,500. 
<;,j_m Session" and Duncan Sisters 
heading vaude should garner stout 
$29,000. Many holdovers in town, all 
doing well. 

Estimates lor This Week 

Apollo (B&K) (1,200; 55-95)— 
• White Cliffs" (M-G) (2d wk). Was 
headed for fine $11,000 until theatre 
had fire late last night (10) and had 
to close. Last week, sturdy $15,000. 

Chicago (B&K) (3,900 ; 55-95)— 
"Going My Way" (Par) (5th wk) 
plus Ozzie Nelson orch .on stage (1st 
wk). Great $63,000. Last week, with 
Harrv Richmanand Dave Apollon 
heading vaude (4th wk), terrif $65,- 
500. . - 

Garrick (B&K) (900; 55-95)— 
"Roger Touhy" (20th) and "Ladies 
Washington" (20th). Fine $11,000. 
Last week. "Mabel's Room" (UA), 4 
days ( 2d wk ) and "Touhy" (20th ) and 
"Ladies Washington" (20th), 3 days, 
rugged $15,000. ./ 

Grand (RKO) (1,150; 55-95)— 
"Dead- End" (FC) (reissue) and 
"Dixie Jamboree" (PRC). Lusty $9,- 
500. Last week. "Invisible Man's Re- 
venge': iU> and "Return Ape Man" 
(Mono). 6 days (2d wk) and "Dead 
End" and "Jamboree," 1 day, pleas- 
ant $8,000. " 

Oriental (Iroquois) (3,200; 55-95)— 
".lam Session" (Col) plus Duncan 
Sisters heading vaude. Hefty $29.- 
000. Last week. "Yellow Rose" (Rep) 
and Rochester and Bobby Sherwood 
orch on stage, smash $37,000. 

Palace (RKO) (2,500; 55-95)— "Co- 
bra Woman" <U) and "South Dixie" 
(Ui (2d wk). Nice $18,000. Last week, 
neat $20,000. 

• Roosevelt (B&K) (1.500; 55-95)— 
"Home in Indiana" (20th) (2d wk) 
— Danetv— $-1^00 0. Last 
$23,000. 

Stut.--I.akc (B&K) (2;700; 55-95)— 
"Dr. Wassell" (Par) (3d wk). Trim 
$29,000. Last week, firni $33,000. 

United Artists (B&K) (1.700: 55- 
951— "White Cliffs" (M-G) (2d wk K 
-Rousing $25,000. Last week, sock 
$30,000. 

Woods (Essaness) (1.200; 55-95)— 
"Up in Arms" (UA) (Uth wk). Big 
$17,000. Last week, exceptional $19,- 
■ 500. .': 



Tin-Up Girl' Lush 

$11,000 in Mild Omaha 

Omaha, July 11. 
"Pin-Up Girl." at the Paramount, 
-is-the talk-of— townr being way out 
ahead for straight filmers. 

Estimates for This Week : , 
Orpheum (Tristates) (3,000; 20-70) 
—"Meet People" (M-GJ and Chuck 
Foster arch on stage; Average $14,- 
000. Last week. "3 Men in White" 
(M-G) and' Iha Ray Hutton orch, fine 
$16:300 for holiday session, -over 
hopes. 

Paramount (Tristates) (3,000; 16- 
60)— "Pin-Up Girl" (20th). Strong 
$11,000. Last week. "Dr. Wassell" 
t Par), smash $12,500 on big pickup 
alter weekend 

Brandeis (RKO-Singer) (1,500: lff- 
60)— "Dimitrios" (WB) and "Jam 
Session" (Col). Good $9,000 in 9 
days, including July 4. Last week. 
"Address Unknown" (Col) and 
"Make Own Bed" (Col), $5,800 in six 
days. '■ ■ :. ' ..■ . ';■••' . :-.'.■# . V 

Omaha (Tristates) (2,000: 16-60)— 
"Dr. Wassell'.' (Par). Moveover 
Great $9,500. Last week. "Touhy. 
Gangster" (20th) and "Hi. Good 
Lookin'," (U). only fair $7,500. . ". • 

BED-TARS' 

mmih?Ls. 



Krupa Ups 'Adventure' 
To Smash $30,000, Hub; 
'Cliffs' 521G, 2 Spots 

Boston, July 11. 

Per usual, sizzling weather is slow- 
ing pace in most spots. Standout is 
"Night of Adventure," which is being 
boosted to smash returns by Gene 
Krupa's new band at the RKO Bos- 
ton. "White Cliffs" also looks great 
at Orpheum and State. 

Estimates for This Week 

Boston (RKO) (3.200: 55-$1.10)— 
".Night' Adventure" (RKO) and Gene 
Kru pa orch on stage. Smash $30,000. 
for time of year. Fine reception for 
band on first engagement. Last week. 
"Happened Tomorrow" (Par) and 
George White's "Scandals," fair 
$22,000. 

Fenway (M&P) (1,373: 40-74)— 
"Harvest Moon" (WB) and "Candle- 
light Algeria" (WB ).. Fair. $7,000 for 
second week downtown. "Four Jills" 
<20lhl opens today (11). Last week. 
"Going My Way" (Par), good $6,500 
*0'' sixth week, ... 

Majestic (E. M. Loew) (1.350: 
$I.10W'Bernadette" (20th) UOth 
wk). Heat hit biz. only $6,300 after 
around $6,500 last week. 

Memorial (RKO) (2.900; 40-95)— 
"Home in Indiana" (20th) and "Gil- 
dersjeeve's Ghost" (2d wk). Good 
$19,500. Last week, okay $22,000. . 

Metropolitan (M&P) (4,367: 40-74) 
—"Dr. Wassell" (Par) (2d wk). Fine 
$24,000 for second stanza. Last week, 
grand $29,400, over hopes. 

Orpheum (Loew) (2,900; 35-74)— 
'White Cliffs" (M-G). Great $29,500. 
; Last week. "Two Girls' Sailor" IM-G» 
'2d wk i.. okay $17,000. 

Paramount (M&P) (1.700; 40-74) — 
Harvest Moon" (WB) and "Candle- 
l.ivht Algeria" (WB). Sturdy $9,500 
fair second week downtown. . Last 
. week.. "Going My Way." (Par ),' socko 
$11,000, 

.;'; Stale (Loew) (3,200: 35-74)— 
White Cliffs" (M-G). Drawing big 

jabe trade, wow $23,000. Last week. 
Two Girls Sailor" (M-G) (2d wk), 

slow $8,000. 

.< D T'' ans, " x (Translux) (900: 30-74)— 
Black Room" (U) and "Return Ape 
Man (Mono). Robust $6,000. Last, 
week. "Sell Mv Life" (Indie) and 
Missing Girls" (Indie), lair 



Minneapolis, July 11. 
Orpheum. with "Make Your Own 
Bed" and "Tars and Spars" revue on 
stage is pacing the city. "Home in 
Indiana" is leading straight filmer 
at Radio City. Otherwise, holdovers 
dominate, and some are not so stout. 
. Estimates for This Week . 
Aster (Par-Singer) (900; 25-35)— 
"False Colors" (UA) and "Kitty 
O'Day" (Mono). In four days looks 
satisfactory $1,800. "Girls on Proba- 
tion" (WB) and "Jam Session" (Col) 
open Wednesday. (12). Last week. 
"Slightly Terrific" (U) and "Monster 
lfr— eheiee-pMaker " - ( P-RG-).— split— w i th "Tr oea— 
dero" (Rep) and "Silent Partner" 
(Rep), fair $2,500 in eight days'. 

Century (P-S) (1.600: 44-60)— "Dr. 
Wassell" (Par). After big first week 
at Radio City, good $7,000. Last week, 
"Christmas Holiday" (,U), $6,000 on 
mo. from Radio City. 

Gopher (P-S > (1.000; 40)— "Ladies 
Courageous" (U). Mild $3,000. Last 
week. "Aldrich Plays Cupid" (Par), 
$2,900 in six days. 

Lyric (P-S) (1.100: 44-60)— 
"White Cliffs" (M-G) (3d wk). After 
boff fortnight at State, staunch $7.- 
500. Last week. "Cobra Woman" (U) 
(2d wk). light $4,000. 

Orpheum <P-S) (2.300; 44-70)— 
"Make Own Bed" (WB) and "Tars 
and Spars" revue on stage. Stage 
show pushing this to sock $20,000. 
Last week. "7 Days Ashore" (RKO > 
and Ozzie Nelson oreh. Harriet Hil- 
liard. on stage, big $19,000. . 

Radio City (P-S I (4.000: 44-60)— 
"Home in Indiana" (20th). Brisk 
$14,000 or over. Last week, "Dr. Was- 
sell" (Par), big $16:000. 

State (P-S) (2.300; 44-60)— "Ma- 
bels Room" (UA)/ Fine $12,000. 
Last week. "White Cliffs" (M-G) (2d 
wk ). $11,000. 

Uptown (Par) (1.100: 40-50)— "Pin. 
Up Girl" (20th). First nabe show- 
ing. Mild $2,500. Last week, "Buffalo 
Bill" (20th). $2,900: 

World (Par-Slefies) (350 : 44-80)— 
"Address Unknown" (Col I. Mildish 
$2,000. Last week. "Catherine the 
Great" (UA > (reissue), $1,800. 



"Scat" Davis. Stout $27,000, Last 
week, "Meet the People" (MrG), 
with stage show, good $24,000. 

State (F-WC) (2,010; 55-85)— "Gas- 
light" (M-G) and "Trocadero" (Rep) 
(3d wk). Smash $17,000. Last week, 
terrif $21,500 -for this lower Market 
St. spot. ". :••/•' v 

Golden Gate (RKO) (2,850; 55-90) 
"Days of Glory" (RKO), with stage 
show headed by Jane Withers and 
Hollywood Canteen's Kid Band. 
Fairly satisfactory $24,000. Last 
week, "Show Business" (RKO) plus 
Jan Garber orch (3d wk), big $24,500. 
. Orpheum (Blumenfeld) (2,440; 60- 
85)— "Christmas Holiday" (U) and 
"Minstrel Man" (PRC) ' (23" wk). 
Sturdy $15,000. Last week, great 
$21,000. ' 

United Artists (Blumenfeld) (1,100; 
60-85)— "Hairv Ape" (UA) and "Stars 
oh Parade" (RKO). Excellent $12,- 
000. Last week. 10-day split week, 
"Song Open Road" (UA) and "Moon 
Over Las Vegas" (Rep), passable 
$9,800. . '-.: . ■ . '::'• ;':,::.'•;'..; 

'2 Girls Wham 
19G, Cincy Ace 

Cincinnati. July 11. . 
"Two Girls _and a Sailor," one of 
a pair of newcomers this week, is 
on a high b.o. spree at the Palace. 
The other firstrun, "Eve of St. Mark." 
is tame for- the Albee. Four addi- 
tional major stands are racking up 
winners with holdovers.. 

Estimates for This. Week : 
Albee (RKO) (3,100: 44-70)— "St. 
Mark" (20th). Tame $11,000. Last 
week. "Angels Sing" (Par), lofty 
$18,500. .. ; 

Capitol (RKO) (2 000: 44-70) — 
"White Cliffs" (M-G) (3d wk). Swell 
$8,500 on heels of sock $12,000 for 
second week. Holds again. 

Family (RKO) (1,000: 30-40)— "Gil- 
dersleeve's Ghost" (RKO) and "Guns 
of Law" (PRC) split with "Men of 
Sea" (PRC) and "Laramie Trail" 
(Rep). Steady $2,200. Same last 
week on "Slightly Terrific" (U) and 
"Range Law" (Mono) divided with 
"Kitty O'Day" (Mono*) and "Wyo- 
ming Hurricane" (Col). 

Grand (RKO) (1,430: 44-70) — 
Home in Indiana" (20th). Third 
m.o. stanza: Hot $7,000 following 
terrif $10,000 last sesh, best third- 
week figure for a film outside road 

show. 

Keith • (Urfited ) (1,400: 44-70)— 
"Angels Sing" (Par). Moveover. 
Great $7,000. Last week, "Once 
Upon Time" (Coll (2d run), all right 
$5,500. : 

Lyric (RKO) (1.400: 44-70)— "Ma 
rine Raiders" (RKOI. Moveover 
Pleasing $5,000. Last week. "Before 
Dawn" (Par) and "Aldrich Plays 
Cupid" (Par), niftv $6,500. 

Palace (RKO I (2.600: 44-70 _-"Two 
Girls Sailor" (M-G). Wham $19,000. 
Last week. "Marine Raiders" (RKO), 
so-so $11,000. 



Heat Bops B way But 'Sensations,' 
Barrie-Rubin-Donegan Sturdy 31G; 
Durbin Hot 35G, Time Big 110G 9 2d 

Oppressive heat ever since the amazing $129,000. Remains a third 



Fourth of July has left its mark oh 
Broadway, but where the attractions 
have more than usual draught the 
takes range from good to excellent. 
Total is further affected by fact .that 
of 15 downtown runs, all are on hold- 
over with exception of the State. 
Currently the State is first-run with 
Sensations of 1945." supported., by a 
stagebill including Grade Rarrie. 
Benny Rubin and Dorothy Dohegan. 
Meeting the weather challenge, house 
looks to do a stout $31,000 or over. ' . 

Also unaffected by the heat is Mu- 
sic Hall's "Once Upon a Time," 



week, .with "Dragon Seed" (M-G) 
set to open July 20. 

Rialto (Mayer) (594: 40-85)— 
"Mummy's Ghost" (U) (2d-fmal wk). 
Off a bit at $6,500 but oke. while 
first week was stout $10,200. "Jun- 
gle Woman" (U) opens Fridav (14). 

Bivoli (UA-Par) (2.092; 60-S1.20)— 
"Dr! Wassell" (Par) (6th wk). 
Dropping somewhat but still good at 
$30,000 for fifth semester finished 
last night (Tuesday); fourth over 
the holiday was $39,000. 

Roxy..(20th) (5,886: 60 -$1.20 V >- 
Take It or Leave It" (20th ). Duke 



which is continuing at a breakneck Ellington orch, Ella Logan and 
pace, and this week, its second, will Jerry -Lester open todav (Wednes- 
hit $110,000, Or near, terrific. Like- | day). Concluding (3d)' frame for 



Indiana' Neat $28,000 
Tops Frisco; '2 Worlds' 
25G, 'Holiday' 15G, HO. 

San Francisco. July 1 1. 
"Home in Indiana." at Fox and 
"Between Two Worlds." at Para- 
mount, look top straight filmers. "Dr. 
Wassell" is sensational at small St. 
Francis . , 

Estimates for This Week 
Fox 1F-WC1 (5.000; 55-851— "Home 
in Indiana" (20th) and "Secrets Scot- 
land Yard" (Repi/ Nice $28,000. Last 
week, "Dr. Wassell' (Pari and 
"Leave it to Irish" (Mono), terrific 
$38,000 to lead field. .'•..-•■ : - ;•'• 

Paramount ( F-WC ) (2.470: 55-85) 
—"Two Worlds" ( WB) . and "Three of 
a Kind" ( Mono i Brisk $25,000. Last 
week. "Two Girls Sailor" (M-G) and 
"Candlelight Algeria" (RKO) (2d 
wk). socko $20,000 despite: one night 
out for bond show. ,- , 

St, Francis (F-WC) (1.475: 55-8»). 
—"Dr. Wassell" (.Par) and "Leave, It 
to Irish" (Mono i. Sensational $20.- 
000 for this small house. Last week, 
third of extended run lor "And An- 
gels Sing" .(Pari, with "Gamblers 
Choice" (Pari, trim $11,500. : . . 
Warffeld (F-WCi (2.6d0: 5o-8r> ) 



'INDEMNITY' BOFFO 
$15,500 IN OK BALTO 

Baltimore. July 11. 

Held down by almost solid lineup 
of h.o. product plus excessive heat, 
biz tends to fairish side currently. 
"Double Indemnity," given good re- 
ception by local crix, is drawing well 
at Keith's. . 

Estimates for This Week 

C.'eatnr.' (Loew's-UA) (3.000; 20- 
60)— "White Cliffs ' (M-G I (3d wk). 
Steady $13,000 after fine second sesh 
at $16,300. 

Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2.240; 
20-74)— "Once Upon Time" (C61) (2d 
wk I plus new stage layout. Holding 
fairly well at $14,000 alter nice $18,- 
200 opener. 

Keith's (Schanberger) (2:460; 20- 
601— "Double Indemnity" (Par) (2d 
wk I. Started second round last: 
night (Mon.) after fine initial round 
to $15,500. 

Mayfair (Hicks) (980; 25-55)— 
"Army" (WB). Started Sat. (8 1 and 
faring well. Last week, nine days of 
"Lady Ket's .Dance" (Mono), average 
$4,900. . 

New (Mechanic) (1.680; 20-60)— 
"Home in Indiana" (20th I (2d wkl. 
Okay $6,500 after strong $10,600 last 
week. 

Stanley (WB) (.3:280: 25-66)— "Dr. 
Wassell" (Par ). (2d wkl.' Still strong 
at $17,000 after robust first round of 
$18,800. , 

Valencia (Loew's-UA) (1,840; 20- 
60)— "U Boat Prisoner" 'UAi. Av- 
erage $4!000. Last week. "Somewhere 
Find You" (M-G I ( r .Issue").. $4,300. ' 



wise socko among pictures that have 
balked the torridity has been the 
Paramount show of "Going My Way" 
and Charlie Spivak's band. It ended 
a 10-week date last night (Tucs.) at 
$66,000, which even today would be a 
good initial week for this house. On 
the run the gross stands at $8OC,00O, 
as compared with $790,000 for the 
same length of run on "Lady in 
Dark" and Xavier Cugat's orchestra, 
only other bill to go that far at the 
Par. : ■."'■ ■ 

The Deanna Durbin starrer, 
"Christmas Holiday," continues big 
at the Criterion, where it ended the 
second round last night at $35,000. 
Oti the first it finished in the stretch 
with a great burst of speed to estab- 
lish a new high of $45,300. Previous 
record was held by ."Cling Ho" at 
$44,000. Other holdovers range from 
only fair to good. 

In addition to Par's "And Angels 
Sing." plus' Perry Como and Jerry 
Wald band, opening today (Wed.), is 
"Take It or Leave It," at the Roxy, 
with Duke Ellington band, Ella Lo- 
gan and Jerry Lester in person. 
Estimates for This Week 
Astor (Loews) (1,140; 60-$1.20) — 
"Bathing Beauty" (M-G) (3d wk). 
Scheduling weeks from. Monday 
through Sunday, second, ended on 
latter day, was $21,900 while initial 
six days went to $21,500, in both 
cases good. 

Capitol (Loew's) (4.820 ; 60-$l.20) 
^^wo--G^ls^^M--e-)7-__iTrrrhMKaye- 
band. Three Ross Sisters and Paul 
Wirichell (4th wk). Dropping some- 
what but still good at $59,000 or near, 
while last week (3d) was very strong 
at $78,500. Goes another week with 
"Since You Went Away 1 ' (Selznick- 
UA) opening July 20. Scales will not 
be raised for its run, as had been 
planned. 

Criterion (Loew's) (1.700: 60-$1.25) 
—"Christmas Holiday" (U) (3d wk). 
Papers didn't think so much of this 
one but it's doing a big business just 
the same and on the initial week, 
ended the night of July 4, picked up 
amazing speed to finish at $45,300, 
new high for house: second con- 
cluded last night (Tues.) hit a rous- 
ing $35,000. 

Globe (Brandt) (1.416: 60-$1.10)— 
"Hairy Ape" (UA) (2d wk ). Holding 
up well at indicated $15,000, while 
initial seven days was $19,000; re- 
mains on. (■:;.• 

Gotham (Brandt) (900: 60-98)— 
"Dead End" (FC) (reissue) (2d wk). 
Should hit $10,000 or over, good, fol- 
lowing first week's nice $12,500, bet- 
ter than had been expected. 

Hollvwotd (WB) (1.499 : 80-$l. 20) 
— "Skeffington" (WB) (7th wk). Fair 
at: about $18,000, while last week 
(6th) over Fourth of July was $21,- 
000. under hopes. No closing date as 
yet scheduled but next one in will | 
probably be "Saratoga Trunk" (WB) 
sometime in August. 

Palace (RKO) (1.700 ; 60-$1.10)— 
"Marine Raiders" (RKOI (2d wk). 
On mild side at $14,000 but will be 
held over anvway; first week was 
$19,000, fair. . . 

Paramount (Par) (3,664 : 60-$1.20) 
— "And Angels Sing" (Par" . Perry 
Como and Jerry Wald orch open to- 
day (Wed.) following record-break- 
ing 10-week stay of "Going My Way" 
(Par) and Charlie Spivak orch. final 
stanza being strong $66,000, prior 
week $73,000. 

Radio Citv Music Hall (Rocke- 
fellers I (5.945: 60-$1.10) — "Once 
Upon Time" (Col) and stageshow 
(2d wk). A mighty business-getter, 
initial holdover session looking 
smash $110,000 or near. First ^week 
over the Fourth of July hit an 



Home In Indiana" (20th). Enric 
Madriguera orch, Hazel Scojt, Joe 
Besser arid Carmen Amaya slid 
sharply to a disappointing $47,000 
from prior week's $71,000. stout. 

State (Loew's '> (3,450; 43-85)— 
"Sensations 1945" (UA) and, in per- 
soiij Gracie Barrie, Benny Rubin, 
Dorothy Dohegan, Clicking very 
smartly for probably $31,000 or over. 
Last week, "Private Hargrove" (M- 
G) (2d run) and Benny Fields. Wil- 
lie Howard, others, on stage, fancy 
$36,000. 

Strand (WB) (2,756: 60-$l.20)~ 
"Mask Dimitrios"' tWBi. Louis 
Prima orch and Phil Regan (3d- 
final wk). In the low groove at 
$30,000 or near, while last week (2d) 
was short of expectations at mod- 
erately good $39,300. "Adventures 
Mark Twain" (WB) <2d run) and 
Vincent Lopez orch come in Friday 
(14). ' 'J .:'.'' ' 

Victoria (Maurer) (720; 60-S1.10) 
— "Kid From Spain" (FC) (reissue) 
(2d-final wk). Goes out on a light 
week's gross of $7,500 after first s dis- 
appointing $9,000. To be replaced 
Saturday (15) by "Minstrel Man" 

(PRO. v ".r -r -. .-' ■■=-"-'- 



HAIDERS' FANCY 

$16^«A5H- 



Washington. July 11. 
■'. "Marine Raiders." at Keith's, is' 
surprise entry of week with smash 
session in sight at this small house. 
Many holdovers elsewhere. "St. 
Mark," with vaude, is best other 
new entry. ','.'. " 

EaUmatea far Thi* Week 
Capitol (Loew) (3.434: 34-72)— 
"St. Mark" (20th) with vaude. Trim 
$23,000. Last week. 'Two Civls 
Sailor" (M-G) (2d wk), fine $22,000 
and $50,000 on run. 

Columbia (Loew) (1.234; 34-72)— 
"Knickerbocker Holiday" (UA). 
Away above average $8,500. Last 
week. "Pin-Up GUI" (20th), disap- 
pointing $6,200. 

Earle (WB) (2.240; $0-90)— "Once 
Upon a Time" (Coll with vaude (2d 
wk l. Fine $18,500 after grand $28,000 
opener. . ..... 

Keith's (RKO) (1.800; 34-66 )-"Ma- 
line Raiders" (RKO). Surprise 
clicker at grand $16,000. Last week, 
"Follow the Boys" (U), better than 
average $11,000. 

Metropolitan (WB) (1.800: 35-55) 
—"Two Worlds" (WB) (2d wk I. Neat 
$8,500 after rousing $11,000 initialer. 

Palace. (Loew) (2.778: 34-66 1— 
"White, Cliffs" (M-G) (3d wk). Ro- 
bust $17,000 after strong $22,000 on 
second. 



'Dimitrios' Potent At 
$15,000 in OK Buffalo 

Bunalo. July 11. 
Plenty of holdoveis will slow the 
pace this week. Top newcomer is 
"Mask of Dimitrios" av Buffalo. "Dr., 
Wassell" is beating its total on hold- 
over session at Great Lake?, 

Estimates for This Week - : 
Buffalo (Sheai (3.500: 40-70)— 
"Mask Dimitrios" (WBi and "Girl.in 
Case" (Col i. Potent $15,000. Last 



week; "Two ,. Girls Sailor'.' (M-G), 
M"ke" O wV *Bcd" '. ( WbT "a.n"d stage dandy $18,000. 



show, 



'Ankles Away," with Johnny : Great Lakes , (Shea) (3,000; 40-70) 



—"Dr. Wassell" (Par) (2d Wk,>. Great 
$18,000 after initial week's terrific 
$21,000. ■'■• ,• • 

Hipp (Shea'i .'2.100: 40-701— "Two 
Girls Sailor" (M-G). Moveover from 
Buffalo. Heftv $10,000 or over. Laxt 
week. "Gaslight." (M-G »• also ;rn ; p.', 
about same. 

Lafayette (Basil) (3 ; 300: 40-701— 
"Secret Command" (Coll and "Swing 
Out 'Blues" .: (Col). Sturdy ,S!),000. 
Last week. "Cobra Woman" (U) and 
"Pardon Rhythm'*. (Ui. rousing 
$12,000. •■'■'. ,• ■ .•",'■':.'" ■> ■ ■ , 

20th Ccnlurv (Ind) '3.000: 40-70) — 
"Marine Raiders" (RKO) and "Gil- 
dersleeve's Ghost" < RKO > I2d ' wk i. 
Profitable $8,300 after first week's 
strong $12,000. '■• 



'Boys' Port Leader, 13C 

' Portland. Ore:. July II. 

With a strong opening day. "Follow 
the Boys" promises to pace city in- 
current" week- at the Broadway. 
Estimates far ThU Week 

Broadway (J. J. Parker) (1.900; 40- 
80)— "Follow Boys" (U) and "Silent 
Partner" (Rep). Strong $13,000. Last 
week, "Man from Frisco" ( Rep) and 
"Trocadero" (Rep), weak $7,500. .. 

Mavfair (Hamrick-Evergreen-Par- 
ker) (1,500: 40-80 (—"White Cargo" 
(M-G) and "Suspicion" (RKO) (re- 
issues): Light $4,000. Last week. "2 
Girls Sailor" (M-Gi and "Scarlet 
Claw" (tO- 5 days, sturdy $6,500. 
. Linited Artists (Parker) 1900; 40- 
80)— "White Cliffs" (M-G i (4th. wkl.. 
Hefty $10,000. Last week, near same. 

Orpheum (H-Ki (1.800:. 40-80 )— 
"Show Business" (RKOi and "Water- 
front" (PRC). Solid $10,500. Last, 
week. "Frisco Kid" (WBi (reissue t 
and "7 Days Ashore" '(RKO*. $8,000.-. 

Paramount (H-Ki (3.000: 40-80 1— 
"And Angels Sing" (Par) and "Gil- 
dnrsleeve's Ghosl" .(RKO)' ftth' wk); 
Good $7,000 in 5 days. Last week, 
healthy $12,700. . .". 

Oriental (H-F.i (2.040: 40-301 — 
"And Angels Sing" (Pari and "Gil- 
derslecve's Ghost" (RKOi (2d Wk). 
Ordinary $2,800 in 5 days. Last week, > 
good $4,200. '' . . ■ '- - ' 



16 



Wednesday, July 12, 1914 




WAR BULLETIN! HAVE YOUR BOND SALES FIGURES READY FOR FIFTH WAR LOAN REPORT BLANK! 



Wednesday, July 12, 1944 ttSfcttTY ■^S-i'-CK-^--. V/'yv^ ' , ' ; ■ ' ' , 11 





M-G-M presents the darling of "Lost 
Angel" in a glorious Star-Roarious Comedy 



MARGARET O'BRIEN 
CHARLES LAUGHTON 
ROBERT YOUNG 



in 



(MOST 



with 



WILLIAM GARGAN -REGINALD OWEN v'RAGS' RAGLAND f UNA O'CONNOR 

Screen Play by Edwin Harvey Blum . Based on "The Canterville Ghost" by Osear Wilde V. ■ 
Directed by JULES DASSIN . Produced by ARTHUR L PIBLO 




* Gro «P No. 



18 



INTERNATIONAL 



•VAWKTVS' LONDON OFFICE 
S St. Martin - * I'layf. Tr»f»l«T 8quar« 



AH Film Prod. Halted in Argentine 
By Producer-Exhib Quota Squabble 



•"Argentine film production- is— at a* 
■•standstill -due to a producer-exhib- 
itor'-: quota* controversy. Producers 
>re demanding one-third. of all first- 
xwn Buenos Aires, playing time, and 
50% of all subsequent bookings at a 



Second Front Holds Up 
Work on 2 British Pix 



40% setting price for the entire lm<F- 
iro of domestic films in that country 
This is what Sam Seidelman, United 
Artists general manager for the Ar- 
gentine and Latin-American super- 
visor, reported in N. Y. late last 

W Exhibitors refuse to give in to 
these demands, even threatening to 
turn their houses over to government 
operation if necessary. Argentina is 
the only country in Latin or South 
America, where film grosses have not 
risen above pre-war levels, Seidel- 
man- said, blaming the situation on 
the nation's isolation from the war. 
poor exploitation of . product; and 
double and triple feature programs 
at the majority of cinema houseSi 

During 1943-44, local producers 
made only 35 pictures, with the re-' 
suit that U. S. product is: garnering 
70% of the playing time in that 
country, while Argentine product is 
netting only 20%, and all other- 
nation films dividing up the remain- 
ing 10%. , . „ 
There are no post-war plans being 
made by any industry in Argentina, 
including motion pictures, because of 
the unsettled internal political situa- 
tion, he said. Seidelman will remain 
fit N Y, for a month, and then go 
to Hollywood before returning to his 
Buenos Aires headquarters. 



donr June 15. 
Second front has caused further 
labor shortage, already acute. This 
has halted production on "Perfect 
Strangers," Alexander Korda picture 
which was originally to be produced 
by Wesley Ruggles for Metro. 
Ruggles quit over differences with 
Korda, and latter now plans to direct. 

Also delayed is Gabriel Pascal's 
"Caesar and .Cleopatra/' by Bernard 
Shaw, jointly directed by Pascal and 
Brian Desmond Hurst. Denham Film 
studios already is engaged for 35 
weeks on film. 



Top Concert, Theatre 
Names Balk Deals For 
New Argentine Season 

Buenos Aires, June 15. ' 
Local concert and theatre manage- 
ments insist that exaggerated reports 
In the U. S. press about conditions in 
— ATgentina-are-responsibleJarahe-Oiz. 
luctance of top names to leave the 
States for appearances here. Result 
is that plans for the new season, look 
extremely weak on marquee appeal. 

Topflight instrumentalists, singers 
and others who have received offers 
from here this year have asked 
^prices so much higher than previ- 
ously that the impression is clearly 
conveyed that there's something else 
besides cash worrying them. Price 
idea has been made the basis in or- 
der to avoid having to give a -flat 
turn-down. Local managements and 
radio outlets also have found that 
the present prosperous situation of 
theatre and concert circuits in U. S, 
is hitting them because the .Argen- 
tine peso is even weaker now than a 
year ago compared to the dollar. 



Rank Setting 
Own Rep Chain 

London, June 23. 
To what lengths J. Arthur Rank 
is: prepared to go ,to put British 
films on the map in the U; S. is seen 
in his arrangement with Myron Selz- 
nick agency to find artists and 
writers for a. chain of rep theatres 
in .small towns in various parts of 
England. First of these rep com- 
panies already has been recruited 
and soon will start staging new 
plays at Worthing where it . will be 



SET PLANS FOR NEW 
MONTREAL PIC CO. 

Montreal, July 11. 
'Montreal's first major motion pic- 
ture producing enterprise made its 
official bp\v . here. last.' week. at a din- 
ner attended by Mayor Adhemar 
Raynault and officials of the new 
company. It is Renaissance Films; 
distribution will be by France-Films, 
which has "been releasing French 
films here for a number of years and 
which operates the St. Denis, 2,500- 
seater. •'; ■ ■',.[ . - ' ' 

Also, in attendance at the dinner 
was Madeleine Ozeray, French film 
star, here from the Argentine, to 
which she escaped after the fair of 
France. With her are Paul Cambo 
and Marcel Chabrier, who will 
handle -leading -roles .with Miss Oz- 
eray. Fedor Ozep w ill direct Renais- 
sance Films' first picture,. "Le Pere 
Chopin," which will enter production 
at St. Laurent, hear-by suburb, of 
Montreal, shortly. Ozep has made 
a number of films in France, notably 
those 1 starring Harry Bauer. 

Charles Phillip is producer of the 
new organization, whose films will 
be designed for presentation in 
Canada and in France when that 
country is cleared of Germans. Eng- 
lish versions of the pictures by 
Renaissance Films will be made 
later. ■■ ' "- . 



U's Mclntyre Lauds Gratis U.S. 
Films in S. Pacific; Helps Their B.O. 



Aussie Nixes Early BMg. 
Of Theatres Postwar 

Sydney, July 11. 

Australian government has ne- 
gated effdrts : on any early postwar 
attempt to erect additional theatres 
by local circuits or U. S. distributors 
who seek to break into exhibition 
here. Prime Minister Curtin has de- 
creed that housing plans come first 
and then industrial building expan- 
sion.. •■''-.;' . ;•■ 

Understood that Aussie govern- 
ment officials are now watching any 
further moves by major circuits to 
buy out interests in minor theatre 
chains via stock, transfer. Future 
deals must have the okay of the Fed 
era! Treasurer. 



Raiding by U. S. Films 
For Spanish Dubbing 
Arouses Mex Industry 

Hollywood has created a furore in 
-in iwi*wi#.an film* inHudrv hv nab- 



National Theatre For 

Australia Mulled 

Plans, for a national theatre, 
broached this Winter by a group of 
drama patrons known as the Austra- 
lian National Theatre Movement, are 
proceeding despite difficulty in get- 
ting political support during war- 
times. Movement,, which hopes for 
government aid in bringing Austra- 
lian talent before the public, already 
has received an offer of about $300.- 
000 from ah anonymous business man 
for a theatre building, prov ided suit- 
able site can be found. Offer has 
further strings, involving mainte- 
nance and management, solution be- 
jng to approach the feuera'r govern- 
ment for -subsidy. ':.-'. 

Prime Minister Curtin is reported- 
ly opposed to formation of an offi- 
cial. National Theatre, believing that 
subsidizing of local repertory thea- 
tres is more effective. His reason is 
thought to be that Australia has no 
one centre of art, and that the six 
State capitals provide whatever focal, 
points there are for central direction. 

Last week a project for a national 
theatre in N. Y. was announced with 
'.he gift of 8100,000 by producer John 
Golden as the impetus..; 



permanently housed in the local 
house. As quickly as other spots 
can be found, and artists put under 
contract, the hew organization will 
expand indefinitely. 
, ' Thus far no official announcement 
has been made by Gaumorit-British 
or. other film companies controlled 
by Rank, the venture being nomi- 
nally an independent move by David 
Henley, London rep of the Selznick 
outfit. H° wever > understood that the 
repertory idea has been launched for 
the sole purpose of developing new 
screen personalities and potential 
scenarists. :-.•'■■:, .:'' ..-'';.,_ 

Unlike the custom of • film conv 
pahies backing stage productions in 
exchange for acquiring the film 
rights, Rank is less interested in the 
film possibilities of such new plays 
as developed by his rep companies 
than he is in discovering new tal- 
ent. ■ .'■•'' ' . 

Obviously, if a play turns out to 
be effective screen material it will 
be adapted, and put into production 
as a film. But the basic idea is to 
concentrate on scripts giving the 
embryonic film stars the greatest 
possible chance to show how good 
they are. 



Aussie Showmen's 
Postwar U.S. Talks 



the Mexican film™ industry by nab 
bing almost 50 top Mex stars for Use 
in U. S. pictures which will be 
dubbed for the foreign market, Wal- 
ter Gould, United Artists foreign 
manager, reported in N. Y. last week 
on his return from ' a six-week trip 
to that country. . 

That the situation is slowly being 
straightened Out was admitted by 
Gould, but he add ed that the "raid- 
ing" has definitely left scars that will 
not <be healed for some time. 



Rathvon, Mexican Film 
Chiefs Huddle on Prod. 

■ Hollywood, July 11. 

Mexican capitalists' are huddliiig 
here with N. Peter Rathvon, RKO 
prexy, about the financing of the 
studio in Mexico City, in which RKO 
holds a 50% interest. 

In the huddle are Eduard. Villa- 
senor, president of the Bank of Mexi- 
co, and Emilio Azcarrago. heavily in- 
terested in films and radio.. 



UA's initial. Mexican production by 
Dudley Murphy. "The Bell of My 
Village," has been completed, and 
will be distributed shortly. Film, 
based on a Satevepost story, stars 
Pedro Armandaf ez. ;' - 

Mexican -films garnered one-third 
of all Mexico City first-run playing 
time during 1943-44, nabbing 40% of 
all film revenue during that period. 
These pictures totaled 22% of all re- 
leases booked into these houses, a 
big gain for their industry, and a 
situation unheard of three years ago. 

Result, he added, is that U. S. 
product will soon be dubbed in 
greater amounts than heretofore to 
combat the financial inroads made 
by these foreign pictures. Gould 
called tor a wider perspective in the 
production of Hollywood films %ith 
"an eye to worldwide distribution, 
pointing, out that in the postwar 
.there-will-be a strong battle for busi- 
ness by all nations. 



Trek of American film officials 
from Australia for huddles and con- 
fabs in N. Y, is reportedly tied in 
with postwar prospects and develop- 
ments Down Under. Arrival of 
Harry Hunter, Paramount's manag- 
ing director in Aussie, and Norman 
B. Rydge, chairman of Greater Union 
Theatres, one of two major circuits 
in. Australia, -'.will 'swell the total. Not 
known when they will*reach N. Y. 

In the meantime. Herb Mclntyre; 
Universal's managing director there, 
came on to N. Y. this week from the 
Coast where he-^i rived . last week. 
Ralph Doyle. RKOs manag ing direc- 
tor in Australia, Slill is in NTYTITHv- 
ing been here for about . a month. 
Remains for the annual sales confab 
later this month. Herschel Stuart, 
National Theatres rep in Hoyts cir- 
cuit, also still is in the U. S., and 
may stay over for the 20th-Fox con- 
vention. ... 

Nick Pery, Columbia's manager in 
Aussie, only recently returned to 
Sydney after "homeoffice- confabs. 
Rydge is expected not only to look 
over the product setup but also is 
understood interested in any new 
technical developments " (available 
postwar) such as television, im- 
proved sound and film for his theatre 
setup. • ;.-'-. ; ■ , 



Half of Australia's population of - 
7,000,000 attends .the film theatre . 
weekly in that country's biggest mo- 
tion' picture boom in history, Here G, 
Mclntyre, Universal managing 
director for Australasia, reported in 
'N. Y.-yc sterday (Tuesda^J . It is his 
first' visit here in seven years. 
Tastes among natives there are -:■: 
much the same as in U. S, with 
comedies and big musicals leading, 
he said. Films are getting longer 
runs than usual today, from, seven to 
eight weeks in .irst-run houses. 
Three to four weeks was the aver- 
age tops for a picture before. 

The eight major U. S. companies 
have supplied 177,000,000 feet of film 
for Allied troops gratis in the Pacific 
to date, and in advance of Austra- 
lian release. Result has been, ac- 
cording to Mclntyre, a big letter- 
writing barrage to Australians and 
New Zealanders, and strong grosses 
for these Alms. There is little do- 
mestis production in Australia, with 
"Rats of Tobruck," produced by : 
Charles Chauvel, currently t.he only 
picture in work. Columbia Pictures 
plans to produce a film on the life 
of Kmgsford Smith. , 

Mclntyre reported that exhibitors 
exercise their 25% cancellation priv- 
ilege against U. S. product mainly 
by turning down horror films. He 
revealed that an ad valorem duty, 
against the industry is on the Fed- 
eral agenda. 

On his return to Australia, he w ill 
stage a 25th arini campaign for U. 
Mclntyre: years ago inaugurated a 
Provident Fund (pension plan) for 
U employees Down Under, which he 
believes has resulted in better work 
from everybody in his organization. 
He has augmented this fund each 
year by donating half of his own 
salary to it. 



South African Govt. Legislates 
For Compulsory Native-Made Pix 



By JOE HANSON 

Cape Town, May 22. 
South African government is in- 



while in Cape Province admission 
prices are taxed at 33 1-3%. - 

Films classed as "Educational" 
(embracing propaganda, history, 



^^S^JI^m^S&0m^ : h$£$W Se- 

duction in South Africa of more Id- special board, are admitted duty'f vote' for" D4W8y- m , "'Vpte 



Politicos 

Continued from page 1 



cally made films. Industry is given 
two years in which to provide at 
least, ten minutes' South Africa film 
in every program. If at conclusion of 
two years industry is not making 52 
shorts per annum, government 
threatens to invade film production 
industry and produce government- 
made films. 

Industry considers this most unfair, 
as at present it considers itself doing 
good production job. Regular news- 
reels are being turned out weekly in 
English and Afrikaans (Dutch) 
languages, in addition to at least 15 
to 20 shorts per annum On various 
yi ilnj p>is ( - j ri ^1 lid in 0 propaganda vftlms. 

During debate in the House, mem- 
bers of Parliament spoke on alleged 
bad effect of U, S.-produced films on 
language, and culture of South 
African youth. Joke is. '..that films 
provide large source of"revenue for 
Government. Customs duty is levied 
at sixpence per foot for first copies 
and half for second and other copies, 



free. Members accused industry of 
defrauding government of revenue 
by inclusion of subjects like "Mrs. 
Miniver," "Blossoms in the Dust" 
and the "Moon is Down" in this class. 
Showmen here strongly resent this 
allegation but result will probably- be 
tightening up on educational certifi- 
cates. ' : - '■: ■.-.■'■'. 'v.. :-, 



Current London Shows 

London, July 11. 
"Arsenic & Old Lace," Strand. 
All Star Variety, Palladium. 
"Blithe 'spirit," Duchess. T 
"G'nite Ladies,'; Whitehall. ..,-: 
'•Gypsy Princess,'' Saville. -. 
"How're They at Home," Apollo 
"Ideal Husband," Westminster. 
. "Mrs; Cheyney," Savoy. 
"Love Racket," Princes; . 
"Old Chelsea," Winter Garden. 
"Quiet Weekend," Wyndhams. 
"Sweeter Lower," Ambassador. 



intend injecting a showmanship hypo 
a la "Wintergreen for President," to 
replace the previous gabfests which, 
at' best, had a limited audience ap- 
peal regardless of -how rabid a fol- 
lowing the speakers commanded. 
Latter was particularly pointed up at 
the recent G.O.P. Chi conclave, 
where the showmanship element was 
so lacking that, so far as the average 
listener was concerned, it wasn't far 
removed from a Chautauqua clam- 
bake/ 

Through the 13-week cycle of con- 
tinuity of broadcasts, the political, 
chieftains hope to reach out to the 
majority of the nation^ voters by 
■»w with a 
for Roose 

velt" (FDR only yesterday, Tues., 
confirmed his willingness to hop on 
for a fourth ride ) commercial to re- 
place the Coca-Cola, Ivory Soap, et 
al, plug. 

Behind the /move is the feeling 
that the political parties must adopt 
a strategy keyed to the listening 
public's habits, and that resorting to 
the cut-and-dried oration technique 
will only invite people already sold 
on their part/ affiliation but' dis- 
courage newcomers to the fold. As 
pointed out by one of the Demo- 
cratic biggies: "We aim to. do a job 
that' will reflect to the credit of 
radio and to the candidates them- 
selves.'' 

In view of the tight nighttime sked 
on NBC and CBS, expectations are 
that Mutual and the Blue will get the 
biggest network play, . with the. 
G.O.P. biggies: currently setting a 
deal with Mutual for the' initial 13- 
week series. - ,' 

The "spot announcement" tech- 
nique. 'as detailed elsewhere . in ''Va- 
riety," will also play a . prominent 
role in 'the summer-fall campaign. '., 



New Zealand Sees 
— -Legit for 1 st Time 
In 3 Years; Big Hit 

'■';■•'■ ''■;•:; Auckland, N. Z., July 11. 

New Zealand, getting its first legit 
entertainment in three years, has 
been packing houses .every where for 
the repertory troupe headed by' Neva 
Carr Glyn and Lloyd Lamble. 
Troupe, flown in from Sydney. Aus- 
tralia, in April, when the government 
lifted its war ban on travel, is here 
for a six months' season, playing 
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch 
and Duneeden as well as one-iiight- 
ers in the nabes. In getting permis- 
sion to bring troupe in on two sea- 
planes, E.-J. Tait transported an en- 
tire company by air for first time 
here. . c v ' • 

Company, playing the J. C. Wil- 
liamson theatres chain, is doing 
"Claudia," "Arsenic and Old Lace," 
"Susan and God," "Kiss and Tell" 
and "The Man Who Came to Dinner." 
Opening its visit with a benefit per- 
formance of "Claudia" for blinded 
soldiers in His Majesty's theatre. 
Auckland, on April 5. troupe cleared 
1,000 pounds (about $3,000). 

Last legit troupe to tour New Zea- 
land was a Gilbert and Sullivan 
company. 



'Not Neutral Enough' 
For Eire, 'Army' Banned 

Irving Berlin's "This Is the Army" 
(WB) has been banned in Lire, ac- 
cording to word received by Root it 
Schless, home office foreign depart- 
ment chief, because "it was not neu- 
tral enough." -., 

Schless added that more than half 
of films produced in Holly wood since 
the war started have been barred 
from exhibition in that country for 
this reason.. . ; ' ■ ' ■■; •■': ->/; :■ 



Kilroe's Mex Chore ; 

Hays office last week designated 
E dwi^ -'.P. Kilroe, chairman of its 
copyright committee, to represent 
the film industry at. the third con- 
ference of the Inter-American Bar 
Assn. scheduled for July , 31-Aug.. ,8 
in Mexico City. Copyright -matter's 
in connection With intellectual and 
industrial property will be con- 
sidered. .•:■' ■ 

Kjlroe was instructed to make a 
survey of Mexican copyright, law so 
that he might make suggestions for 
amendments which would eliminate 
any present difficulties iiv. distribut- 
ing U. S. films in Mexico. 



Wednesday, July 12, 1944 



it 




10 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, July 12, 1944 




Take 11 Or l*»v« II 

(SONGS) 

Wnll-Pov j-'-iUi'si- i.f' .lirja.ii i''iiy. : UroililT- 
tli.li, Kllhs.l'lul H.'iUi r> -fr>n I n tf « IMiil S|l- 
m.tk. Kdwiinl'. -/!>.<£"', ' . :Mai'Ji.tt« Massoiv, 
Ntnrilry ' ITHk' I'. Ilii'e.'l>-d l.v llenjanllil 
KHiii.rr. s.ii'i upl.iy. I l:i 1 o!ii Jin. isniiiii. Hnujs 
Wr-rrls, -Mm: ISl-miti: ..imrra, .l.iarph ; Ml- 
HhV'Ue, ' Kiel ' .-«Mii 11: filUcr;: lla'try '.Rey- 
Tuilda: .uiiislt'.. Runt N'ewnuin: souk*, divcra 

: Knim-fr. ' •h.l.l-^lwvii July Ml, ,'.-H. . Jtllll- 
niiiK ilnio, 10.MISS. . 



Mill Mirt'f 
Milt siivi- 
J*Wi«..V. 

K foil 

Ill 
J>' 
Jl| 
)'i 
S' 
''ill.., 
H.M.r.rjitiil.li 
'IVyi limn .. 
Tiu.-k Liifl-v.-r 



. Ktlv 



Btltalril J'. 
-Huil.-. ;. 

1 

f ' iirv . 



:nii«aoir 

.HihmelC 
nt Jiyan 

.SiarU'ey .-l' raiser 

.'.-•, .Iti.y rflimli.il 

,.i',X,lill» Jlrvniu 
f'attetun V 
. .Anil CV.W 
, ..iNrfh] \Vli|l.ft' 
, . I;rnit> .Hl.itio 
;. . .Kraiik .I. mK.h 
. -K. S.. I'ull.v 



iiiim- 



Phil Baker's "Take It or Leave. It" 
film version is no $0.4 question when 
it comes to plot. However, it's OK 
summer film fare.. ■ ,..' » ' 

V.'s a loose 'affair which adequately 
rides the crest, of Baker's radio pro- 
gram and. as put together, it's a curi- 
ous blend of: naive yet effect iy-e 
cinematic divertissement. The man- 
ner hi which a dozen clips from past 
Fox and Joe Schenck film produc- 
tions have been intertwined is a 
Sjdllful and audience-arresting 
device' to' niake the film fan: partici- 
pate in the quiz show. - 
• Baker emcees the unreeling of a 
series of highlight scenes from 20th- 
Fox, lilmusicals— Henie, Grable-Faye. 
Nicholas Bros., Ink Spots, Wiere 
Bros., Ritz Bros.. Dixie Dunbar, Jql- 
sbli; Buster Kealoii, et al. iThe. JeJ- 
son excerpt is from an old Joe 
Schenck <UA) production.! Thus is 
derived the ballyhoo of the "27 sur- 
prise stars,": an excellent merchan- 
dizing stunt. •..".:.■' 

Plot is sympathetically hung on 
Edward. Ryan, nervous young gob. 
who needs $1,000 for the fancy baby, 
specialist. He and Stanley Prager 
have just shipped in. Marjorie Mas- 
sow,, as Ryan's young wife, is win- 
some as the mother-to-be. 

When young Ryan takes her and 
his shipmate Prager to Baker's Take- 
lt-dr-Leave-It broadcast, and he par- 
ticipates, the $64 prize is rung up 
into several hundred as Baker rec- 
ognizes that the young U. S. seaman 
will need more than the usual $64 
jackpot to meet expenses. Ryan had 
picked "scenes from famous movies" 
-T^^-lTiTr-csrtegt)r^^^4vlei•Mf^ewl«:e-lor 
the film-within-a-film unreeling, . 

Thus follow the succession of fihn- 
usical excerpts. They're well paced 



and spaced, with variety and novelty 
all the way. ; In. fact, the audience- 
appeal is patent from the general at' 
titude of ."no\v, what is! the name of 
that picture!' approach. Incidentally; 
proof of how ephemeral is the 
average filmusical's impact, is evi- 
denced as the sundry clips unreel. 
Pictures of two years ago are as 
foggy in identification as that old 
Jolson and Buster Keaion clip. ■'-,'-'<:'. 
. Of the cast, Phil Silvers is in for 
a bit and B. S. Pull.y.lammjsler from 
the 52d street . ( N. Y.) niteries, does 
OK in "a bit as the sfumblebum 
truck driver who collects his $1 and 
refuses to take a chance on .a deuce 
Baker, of course, could have tele- 
phoned h is s.l tiff pv er . He's h i tn se 1 f. 
an affable conierenciev, doing a cel- 
luloid version .of -his broadcast;. But 
the real story line motivates around 
the. shore-leave sailors and their con- 
cern in getting the best, baby doctor 
lor Miss Massow. She. does an okay 
job. as does Ryan, while in Stanley 
Prager, 20th-FON has, an: excellent 
comedy potential. Adci_ 



Fori y. TliU'vrx 



HI! 



K 



■ Vailed A i I i."l "<• 

HlirniH iir.iitil. u6ii. •sM«in' NYOUaiii. lit'S 'I; 
iVatui-'-a . Anil}. " I'.ljilrt ...liuliviy.' .;.H."K«'.ri<. 
I lunulas iinmhrlUe,'., I.oiilsci rii.r.i.., liirt 

Mill Hi t.tUl 1.1 i.tsti.v S.Jlllilfl 

s,-i-ci..iiii;.Vr Mi. listel ;M'!l,-d.v ftn'hhf Kiin-i.-, 
ins: 'l.i.ai'.l ,'i.ii i-hanii'lyra. Ereari'd by fl..'- 
H»ee IS. '.M.ill'nvil. Al X»« V...K iln-ane. 
X. V.. ivoek vt J-ily •!. -H.. Tilfliiltne lime. 
«ll .WINS. 




This recent "Hopalong Gassidy'' 
western should satisfy the pater fans 
for okay returns on the duals. } . .'• 

This time, William Boyd, as Hopa- 
long, is sheriff of Butteville. has 
cleaned up town, but election's 'com- 
ing- up 'again and the. bad. .'lins.aiiklc 
back hoping to install Kirk Alyii, 
tavern keeper and weakling, into 
Boyd's office by keeping honest land- 
owners away from the polls. Boyd is 
defeated, and wh.eri he finds Alyn is 
controlled, by the lawless, he takes 
over on his own and again cleans. up 
the town. 

Boyd gives his- usually good per.-. 

for-marme An dy Clyde, grabs la u ghs 

as Boyd's contedic assistant.. Jimmy 
Rogers and Louise Currie ave okay 
as the romantics. Alyn and Douglas 



New York Theatres 



f CAPITOL ^LimpkikwY 

1 » w»v ft Ilil ST. g Swing* Swiy wilfc 1 

V TWO GIRLS /SAMMY KAYEl 

Vlnal Wlik ... '.',-; V 


BETTE DAVIS 

In Warnei^ Bros. ITit! 

'MR. SKEFFINGTON r 

i'-iv .: ' ' - with. 

€lantl« HaiiiN 

BROADWAY »t Slit 8T. HOLLYWOOD 


"TAKE IT OR 
LEAVE IT" 

rhi* A n «^ v/ \s Mh Ave, 
«i B Sta«» POXY * 
SIhiw - «»"' S*. 






»«v m( (lie Slnui.l — Warner Hro«. Hit 

"The Adventures of 
MARK TWAIN" 

P IN I'KUSON 

VINCENT LOPEZ 

, '■ '■:,--'':'. ■ ".'■ ' « nil 
HIk Oi-.-lif»li-H of 3(t InslrMiheolHlliiln 

. ■ ■"■': .'••:" PIiijs:' -:-'-'- '.•■■ V '..' .-- 
THE .riTCHMh>'. . 

8 T R A N D BROADWAY «t 47th ST. 
i AIR-CONDITIONED 




"And The Angels Sing" 

.hi Person 
P«rry Como, Singing S«n<»tion 
of 1944 . . Jerry Wald, Hi» 
Clarinet and Orchasfra. 






GARY COOPER in 

CECIL B. DeMILLE'S 

"Tht Story pf Dr. Wosttll" 

IN TKCIIMCOI.OK . 

*ivoLi 4 '$;rr— 


■JfE" U-piV* ^ MUSICAL 


S\r MUSIC HALL 

"ONCE UPON 
A TIME" 

Spectacular Stag* Productions 


RED SKELTON • ESTHER WILLIAMS 
HARRY JAMES makcVS • XAVIER CU6AT Aec'*. 

Continuous 0o °« OP*" 
Popular Prices /\STOf*V M ' 
*»^»^^ , B'wsy & 45 St. 






L«>l Times Wed. 

KJ "Sensations 
U of 194S" 

l<1 Klunilll! 
i*f Eleanor POWELL 

mm •' 

13 GRAC1E CARRY 
mSfSt BENNY RUBIN 

IX I'KUSON 


St»rt« Tliurt., 
,.' July isiii . 

"Th. WHITE 

CLIFFS of 

DOVER" 

IRtNE DUNNE 
ALAN MARSHAL 

Mills 

BIU SI AGE SHOW 




MARINE RAIDERS' 1 

PAT ROBERT RUTH 1 

O'BRIEN - RYAN - HUSSEY 1 



Miniature Reviews 

"Take ft or Leave U" tSongs) 
i2llth). Lightweight but engag- 
ing film, with songs, blcay lor the 
auinmer trade. :.-. - 

"Forty Thieves" (UA ). Another 
' Mopnlong . Cassidy" hoss opry 
•s'ta'fi'irig William Boyd, an aietipn- 
ful.'iiicldler for duals. 

kyir. Winkle Goes to War" 
i Ccd. > Edward G, Robinson in 
strong tUutler 

.."Medal for the General" (Brit- 
isb-mr.de)., British: kids in this 
• put if over; appears to have Dice 
possibilities for America. 

"El Globo cle Cantolla" (Class) 
iMtx). Good comedy starling 
Ma py Cortes,, w'i.lh songs, but no 
English subtitles: '• .--.:■'■..■ 

"His Best Pupil" lAigentine). 
Lit'caS Demiire's best film and one 
of top ones from Argentine; may 
attract in U. S. 



Dfinibjille make .themselves, suf- 
ficiently despica.ble as the menaces. 1 
Rest of cast does okay in lesser roles 
while . Lesley Selander's direction 
packs plenty of action:' Edba. 



Mr. Wink It' tioos i«» W«r 

• Hollywood, July 11 

, iVijitimil'ir'.irloiiSii .it Ih.vii iti.iit iiu.il 

Si;iis.-:i;.hvi'.i.l <J, ltul.tii.iwi; iYutu.^s 
lliiili U.ini.u. li'il ll..n.i!rlw.ii lilil.inl 
j.miu'.. Ji.tiK-i-t. .-wniyi'i-oim. Hub .Hiiviiiej..: .tn- 

lii-lnl- liVAII'ml B. (!iTf|t, S'nP.-lijlfesi, 

Wnlilti Siilt. tsnuwt r.Mc.v -i. ml l.nnin s,.lt.- 
i.i«m, : 7ii.,ii) h„vp] l.y Tl.ifO.loic I'i-KCi: riili.,1-:. 
!tt. li;iiil l.'i.uil: . .•anifi.i:. -.Iiwepli WhIUct. 
t'u v.. .....I in' I I,ii1l> wnoii July HI. '44. ftuii-: 

S All SS. 



Will.. 
Ai.iy . 



I WIllklKj 
wjnKlc. ,'. . 



I,!., I, ! ....«.-»-.>• 

*si. m:i Him i- 

l. r ,'l ul- I , 

It.ill.h.W'tt'i.tfn . 
i'llllllllji i . .-. . .. .'. 
.M..lhii W, ;. ..'. . .. 
M.iiilni ivii.'j:-i-«.v 
■a; H: slink Ins . . . 
i I.- i. 

t;i,'i.i»i lii, 



.K.lvviir.i (!: tlnWWikm 
:. . . .:. ,•. . KiiHi. ■•Wiiii-iois; 
vi"«i "ui.'hwiitM.ij 

. . ....,,: .Ki.l.. H.iy-.i.fS 

, .Wl. hav.i i.mif 
...... ItcUoi-i ; A nnslli.Hg 

... . -,. . . : IHi.-lii. r<|. (in ilia's 

..Wnllpi Ha.utwln 

..Ail Siuiili 
. ... . . . . Ann :Hri(.eruHl<'i.i: 

.','..: .....Paul S= i H ri i in 

. .-. . . '..-'.* . . Riiildy .- V»i-iim 
. . . . ,'Williaiu- Koi ii-si 
.-: Rerumtfm' MiiV't-K 



with Morlsnd Graham, ivjabel Con- 
standuros and John Laurie grabbing 

support credits. 

Maurice Elvey's direction meas- 
ures tip to the high standard of 
Elizabeth Baron's excellent adapta- 
tion of the novel by James Ronald, 
on which "Medal for the General" 
is based. ' Picture is notable for the 
bright editing by Grace Garland. 

Production values are outstanding, 
scenes in the War Office and a mili- 
tary club bearing the hall mark of 
authenticity. The General's country 
house, where the greater part of the 
story is unfolded, is as modern as a 
Hollywood star's beach bungalow". 
Iiicictcntally, in the 1939 sequences, 
American housewives will find their 
own servant problem the more mad- 
dening as they see the staff of do- 
mestics— butler, cook; and three "up- 
stairs ' maids. 

War Oriice red tape comes in for 
Outspoken ribbing, \vliile the comic 
pomposity of Civil Defense officials 
in. the, first : days of formation, is 
treated in the .same way. Refusal of 
all these, outfits to make use of the 
old general's /services makes under- 
standable his. cancelling his news- 
paper subscriptions and scrapping 
his radio, proofs of his determination 
to. .shut his mind to the war. If his 
turning 'recluse does riot adequately 
motivate- his decision to commit sui- 
cide, it at least heightens the con- 
trast worked fir him when the sex- 
tet ..of slum - kids are billeted on. 
him. . '.'. '■■ .': '.■.' ":. - .-■ •■: 

Of the kids, Gerald Moore, as an 
iinregenerate guttersnipe, who steals 
the General's niedals, has a. rare per- 
soiialily,. In his scenes with Tearle 
this shil'ty-eyed Artful Dodger more 
than holds'his own. 



El (s'lolW «l«> ('niilolla 

("The Balloon of Cantolla'*) ' 
(MEXICAN-MADE) 
\\ (Songs) -;'.'::.>: - 



d.i.-l li|H : . 



' "Mr. Winkle Goes to War" takes 
a case history among the ovei*-38s 
drafted ini.o Army service in early 
1942 io weave a moderately interest- 
ing ialc: Edward G. Robinson's mar- 
quee voltage is necessary to hold this 
one as, a lop-biller; otherwise it's a 
strong duaier. 1 <■ 

Robinson . is a self-conscious bank 
clerk tied down 1o a desk and (ig-. 
ures. Actually, he's, more inclined 
to mechanics and gadgets. His resig- 

shop creates a conflict with his wife, 
but an induction: notice, and his entry 
into . the Army change the entire 
course of his life.' 

'He. '.gradually loses, his hypochon- 
driac and milque-toast tendencies, 
shuns an' Army desk job for the 
mechanical division of ordnance and 
struggles through combat training. 
On a Pacific island he repairs a 
bulldozer during a Jap raid to emerge 
a casualty and a hero for the return 
h'oine and happy launching of his re- 
pair shop. ; "•.',,' -.:•':'-'■ .-'- 
- The dramatic narrative has several 
amusing situations neatly interwoven 
and lightly displayed, mainly through 
the direction of Al Green, but the 
script follows a standard path with 
little originality. ' - 

Robinson competently handles the 
title role, getting okay support from 
Ruth Warrick, Richard Lane, Robert 
Armstrong' and Bob Haymes.. Latter 
sings a brief chorus of "Sweet Gene- 
vieve," with Robinson, Lane and 
Armstrong completing • the soldier 
quartet. Young Ted Donaldson is 
spotlighted as an orphan pal of Rob- 
inson interested in .assisting in the 
shop. The lad continues to mani- 
fest talent and personality. . 

Picture makes use of Pacific island 
invasion clips for combat sequences, 
together with a staged battle be- 
tween the Army and Japs. Photog- 
raphy is good. ' . Walt. 



Medal for the Genet-Hi 

(BRITISH-MADE) 

■.'.,-.;. London, June 21. 

"-Aiifct.i-.'Viiif-i-i.-an i.'ilm Corpora tiorr ve- 
!*-.'.«« .,( Ri'iffnh Satforiiil film, sihis noil- 
fvey 'On !•:<•; .l.i.nnr. cle I'asalis. Illre.'lMl bv 
.Vlmiilre Hlvcy. . . S.TPPinilny. hy .KHa'ijbft.1] 
Baron;. ■tiVinwa.. -"Ja-irtea tVilmin.-. Aithn. 
i.i.i-i.ini. At flinlto. tV.mlun-, June 21. rtun- 
nim liinK. JOO Ml VS. 



ii-vi.1 Clrmh. 

l.ailj. I . !..*. 

Miill's 

Ha'if 
M.'.y.ii. 

111-. J*rK»«»t .'..".-. 
I,unl. i II wrsiiiiiv.'. 
.ViTi-. knivistoi utv. 
Knoi'Veiv ,;; .',-. 

Hairy 

i-nii|iy 

Iraia* 

n.ilii.y 

\»<.i ............ 

Audit IV 

Hiinlt ;, ... .. 

UllIiaili.K Ofllwer., 



. .-.poilrv.ey "Ccarl*. 
. . ..If;inne -It? Cosfatlit 
. .-'. iAfoi'lillltl (Ji ah;.nt 
. MVilirl roltstanrturtifl 

It. tin Lain it. 

. . I'll l .-.it \ ('•ui-.itll 
. . . .-Michael T.Hiiii.'a.-i 

...'...... I rene .rinnd] 

. . Afiiuif eii (ilvnt... 

. ■.(i'ei.-ald .\)iit.j-p 

..-;..' Fli-lnn Wfsli,. 

....... P-i i, la. .(Ma'vkc 

......David Ti-i.-kfh 

Pal Hearv- 

. . . .•.Tlini-jf .v Wolti'l* 
Alec l :i, ,H\-Hi.^hf.iii 
[tosi!>« Boiiltf) 



English reverence of everything 
ancient has always operated to the 
hopeless disadvantage of youth on 
the' stage and in . pictures. "Medal 
for the General" gives six London 
kids a chance to show what they can 
do. '.They turn : in individual per- 
formances as good as the best, the 
"Dead End" kids ever did. These 
youngsters may 'make this film ap- 
peal to V. S. market, in "almost any 
house. . .-• ■•- ' ■ , 

British National doesn't star, these- 
kids in their early teens: not even 
featuring therii. Godfrey Tcarlc and 
Joanne rie. Casalis ' get top billing. 



.As.fi 


ni lam 




», -. A 1 ' 


7. Ml 


Kin" 


1. il l Ml 




Roltfi 
AiiK^-i 




Hn.-i.l 


IK. .... 


.Mail.. 




i;i!t..il 




Hi. mi 


.lOtliiaV', 


PtMl 


ttr'tlMMk 


l'i«i"|. 


in. , .'. 


Malil 


a-. . .;. ;.-, 



i V...V? iiT .\lauHt-lo tie 5a Sei na pro- 
Slars Alapy t'oi It-a. .lose i 'ilu i-il. ; 
l'l-.l.ln.i:.ia.'«jH'olt, Kcr.iaml.i f./rlt-s. 
l. -.l'HTt-'C-lfll -hy. O. Mai-I'lnei! 
•liiKitii/N. : V... Week of .Inly 
K llllif. .100 MIXS, 

Mapy C'ortKs 

...... . ....; .... . ..iorie' I.Ubi-lan 

.... . ; ..It.'sefliia ' Ma rtinez 

...». .:. .:; . , , . ..I.njte Ke>es 
,.'.,.:... ... .... Manila. Kliia 

;..*..., Kain'u o Ooinez Ke'mtl- 

|.'riu(aiirltt Oi-lft>ll 

. ; , l-'Pi nanrto Cot lew 

... . ... . . . .Set-Rin Oxiix 

. i V>iljnie1ti (IcierYero tie l.mla 



Sn >ft>jor AIiiiiiuo 

("His Best Pupil") 
(ARGENTINE-MADE) 

..Biienos Aires, June 25. 

• •AAA u'otTm:i'ifrlt and Vfltaife. 'Slaia Kn- 
rl((iii)-' Muind . -and A'nKel Miilfitna ; ...fen lure a 
tin-Mrs r'aVifc-lnl, Nin ma. I'aalilll) aiit! 

HiiiMei'ino- .nail'aKlia. pireervd -My.. J.ur.vn 
.ttciuare. Slmy and tlialt.lt by riiaes I'eiu 
de .Htirai. ami •Ili.ina.o .'Wau/i.;- Atlapted 
fro* i li« book "S!i.ri»!eii (»••'' by Tteopotrio 
I.i.Ki.nfK. Sr.: . .-« inrrii . Bob P.t.he.la. At 
A-iulnmwdnr, Boeniis: Alrea; Kunning ttuie, 

nr. mins.. ■ '"" • -r.-r- ■■■ 



This is the best Argentine film 
produced to date. It marks a mile- 
stone in Argentine picture production. 

Lucas Deniare. who was respon- 
sible for "La G.uerra Gaucha." has 
proved that he can do it again. All 
asspciated with him in this, produc- 
tion, based on the life -of the Argen- 
tine statesman. Sarmiento. also have 
done well. Should draw attention in 
all parts of hemisphere. 

Sarmjenfo was perhaps Argentina's 
greatest statesman, educator, soldier, 
writer and civtlizer— and a stormy 
character. Friend of: the U. S-:, to 
which he was sent as Ambassador 
and from which he. brought school 
teachers to organize. Argentina's edu- 
cational system, this phase' of his 
lite lias not been . neglected in De- 
mare's .version of his life. . 

Adaptation of slnry to screen has 



Cleaning House; End 
'Sweetheart Deals' 

•/ Chicago, July li. 

Another step toward removing the 
.stigma placed by former corrupt of- 
ficials on the Chicago Moving Pic- 
ture Operators' Union, Local No. 110,. 
was made last week, when the union 
completed negotiations oh a cefntvact' 
standardizing the pay of the machine 
operators! :,'.::.:.':;• - V 

New agreement pdts an end to the 
illegal "sweetheart deals", practiced' 
by/former union officers under mob. 
rule, by out I la wing verbal agree-, 
ments. Everything from now on will 
be in writing, with members- of the 
union having, a copy. i Theatres-are 
.classified according to the. number 
of seats and admission price and a : 
scale set up for .each class. Scale 
runsJrom $2 to £3. an hour. New-con^ 
tract, which - run's until Sept. .1.. 1945, 
provides vacations with pay for the' 
operators for the . first time. An- 
other', st ipulatioii adds 30-minutc.s '-..to : 
the 'working -day with pa\vThese are 
the.:, 30-n.iinutes heretofore given 
gratis by the operators under a 
clause in the old contract that pro- 
vided operators to be on hand a halt 
hour before showtime without, salary; 

Contract was sighed by the Exhib-- 
itors' . Association of Chicago, wivich. 
includes the Balaban & Katz circuit, 
the Great States and other circuits; 
the Allied.- Theatres .of Illinois. headed 
by jack Kirsch; Warner Bios, 
Essaness Theatres and by the Schooii- 
staclt and Sam Meyers houses'. .XJiiion' 
was represented by Eugene J.. At- 
kinson, union's new business man- 
ager; Clarence A. Jalas. his asssitant; 
James Gorman, president of the" 
union, and Dan Carmell, labor at- 
torney, who drafted the contract. ■ 



N.Y. WHITE COLLARITES 
COLLECT 45G BACK PAY 

. Under a decision of the N. Y.. La.-, 
bor Relations Board upholding terms 
agreed Upon between t lie Screen 
Office & -Professional Employees 
Guild. Local IO!!, CIO. and the 20th- 
Fox, Metro: and United Artists ex- 
changes in N. Y:, these: branches on. 



... j/ii Spnni.vli; No English Titles) 

This comedy with, music Is for 
Spanish-speaking audiences in this 

cmnrn-yr-I T is lou ba d--there--ai-e--ito-|-g' lida y i7 ' - ol| t # a P-mjOmaJtHy_ 

English subtitles so that the film 
could achieve wider distribution, be- 
cause it. has all the attributes of a 
good production., . . '■"/■ . . . : 

Direction by G. Martinez Solares 
is especially commendable for, de- 
spite the fact that the picture un- 
winds in 100 minutes, there are very 
fe\v dull moments. Mapy "tiortes. 
who plays the lead, is a looker who 
knows how to act. giving, proper 
treatment to her comedy . lines, and 
playing her romantic role with un- 
derstanding. Jose Cibrian. male star, 
and the supporting cast of some of 
Mexico's best actors, also .do an ex- 
cellent job. resulting in^ an all- 
around topflight cinema — one of the 
best to come from south of the Rio 
Grande in a. longtime; 
'. Yarn deals w;lh the trio of ro- 
mances being carried on by the 
daughters of a Mexican family, 
against the wishes of th.eir mother, 
who has chosen three swains for her 
offspring herself. The comedic ruses 
used by the three gents seeking ttieir 
hands in marriage are surprisingly 
funny, and .well performed. Most of 
the music is intertwined in the script 
as a: suitor visualizes the type show 
he plans for Miss Cortes. ,:■'"■"'''., 

Musical sellings are elaborate, and 
the film has the earmarks of being 
an expensive production. Seeing this 
one makes it understandable how 
Mexican-made films are beginning 
to give -Hollywood product a strong 
fight for that country ,'s playing time. 
' •'■' '.'■ :.. ; ">.'.."' '. . ' . 5ien. : 



$45,000 in retroactive money to 105 
white-collar members of the union, 

Under the terms of the deal 
worked out some time ago but sty* 
mied for a long while, the retroac- 
tive pay amounts to I2'i'i. from Sep- 
tember. 1942, to May last year, and: 
an additional 2 !i 'J, . since the latter 
date' up to' the present. . 

Following formal . signing of the., 
'contract.^ between SOPEG and the 
three N. Y. film: exchanges, which 
will take place in a week or two, 
the union will -seek to gain ad<li- 
tional raises for its .members in the 
frontoffices of. Ihe branches through 
the classifications route 



Par Objects to Findings 
In Joe Cooper Actions 

Objections were marie by Para-', 
mount Pictures to the .findings -of 
Special Master. Francis W.'H. Adams, 
in which he .recommended dismissal 
of. the complaint against Rialto, Inc., 
J. H. Cooper Enterprise, Inc.. and Inf 
terstale Theatres, Inc.; all Colorado . 
corporations, named as defendants in 
the film company's suit. Par. seeks 
to be. declared owners of certain 
stocks iii the. three corporations, 
which are in Cooper's wime. .Cooper 
also a defendant- in the suit is presi- . 
dent and. director of the' corpora- 
tions. '. .';■ ' : ' ; "', ".■:. ';'• , r '.' 

Paramount Seeks to set aside the 
findings and wants the court to make 
its own findings on the evidence pre- 
sented or. in . the. alternative, reopen 
the. case and refer it back to Adams, 
for. the purpose of receiving vaddi- 
tional evidence 

. The- master's - report is . based on 
hearings conducted . by him, on the . 
question of whether or not the ac-:' 
ttvities of the corporations, conducted 
by Cooper, in New York, are con- 
ducted here with a fan - measure of 
permanence and continuity. . 



been imost skilfully done by M.auzi . 
and Petit de Miirat..- Love slory. is 
faintly . interwoven , in. '.remarkably 
good taste/. Sarmiento's son lost his- 
iife at battle of Curilpaity. while 
Sarmiento was iii 'U. S. as Ambassa- 
dor. When the' statesman: returned 
to take up: Presidency of his country, 
■in sticccssion to Biirlolome Mitre, 
played realistically by' Orestes Ca-. 
viglia. the youngster was no. longer 
there to cheer him.-onV Scenes ;in'.e. 
well put together and phQlomiiphy: . 
is good. . . 

Muiiio's charactcrix'alio'n . 61 Sar- : 
miento is close tn...tinforgei(able, be-, 
ing an tmclinny . i epro'riiiction of -t|>e: 
Statesman himself. Angel Mapim . 
is superb as Snrmieiilo's son.. Eiithis. '.. 



3 New Film Houses Planned For 
South Texas; Other Exchange Items 



San Antonio, June 11. i 
Permits for construction of two 
picture theatres, one costing $50,000 
and the other $55,000, were granted 
Joseph J. Barshop, local produce 
dealer. Both nabes located in the 
northern section of the city, within 
10 blocks of each other. 

New 600-Se»ter in Texa* . 

Houston, July 4. 
A 600-seat theatre Is being in- 
cluded in plans for a townsite to be 
located' 45 miles south: of the . city, 
which is being built by the Dow 
Chemical: Corp; It is understood that 
several Texas theatre men are bid- 
ding for the rights to the Mouse. 

Joseohick to Capitol, Trenton 

Trenton, N. J., July 11. . 

Henry Josephlck has been "named 
manager of RKO Capitol theatre 
here, succeeding two recent mana- 
gers. Henry Scholl and Harry 
Weiner. both now 1 in military serv^ 
ice overseas., 

Josephick is a popular vet in local 
exhibition,' having been manager- of 
the Brunswick since opened and the 
Palace Also was once associate 
manager of the Broad; , 

'' : ■ Talbot Vice : Griffith ' 

In order to accept the chairman- 
ship of the War Council for the State 
of .Oklahoma; which .will require 
much of his time, L. C. Griffith, 
: southwestern circuit tycoon, has re- 
signed as Chief Barker of the Okla- 
homa Variety Club;. Tent No: 22, 
Ralph Talbot of Tulsa, a charter 
member til the Tent and one ot its 
present directors, will fill the va- 
cancy created by Griffith's resigna- 
tion. - j' . '.'V- 



clerk; Helen Paasch and Hannah 
Sundloff, bookers; Florence McHugh, 
head inspectress, and inspectresses 
Emma Olson, . Lenora Severson, Mil- 
dred: Walker and Beiilah Vadner. 

J. E. Flynn, western division man- 
ager, made the presentations and ex- 
plained details Of the company's pen- 
sion plan. : - ; ■ :.• 



Seattle Drama Kd. to V. A. . 

' Seattle, July 11. 
Willard Coghlan,' drama editor ot 
Seattle Sin; tor more than three 
years, resigned* to: become exploited' 
for U. A. in northwest., Succeeded 
on Star by Willard Klsey, who moves 
up from the desk Prior to Joining 
Star, Coghlan was on ad staff of 
Hamrick-Evergreen. 



Metro's 10,20-Year Vets 

Minneapolis. July 11. :• 
•Nine employees each received loy- 
alty awards for 20 and 10 years of 
sei'vice.at the Metro anniversary din- 
nei at the Hotel Radisson here. In 
■the.' 20-year, group at the local branch 
'and receiving gold pin citations were 
W II Workman, branch manager; 
. Alfred Pcrte: .sales manager; Norman 
Pyle, publicity; salesmen Bill Cam- 
eron and George Turner; Bertha 
•Nauer, secretary; Helen . Carney, 
clerk: Emma Fenske, cashier; and 

— Harrcy-hmUf!!.- shipper. — ■ — — 

The 10-ycar employees are sales- 
man John Kelley; Beatrice Rtngdahl, 



'Atlantic City' in A. C. Preems 

Republic will hold a two-theatre 
premiere of "Atlantic. City" in that 
town July 29. with the Million 
Dollar Pier and Hollywood theatres 
doing double duty. Albert J. Cohen 
producer of the high-budgeter, will 
attend the dual opening with Con- 
stance Moore Brad Taylor and 
Charley .Grapew.in, toppers in the 
.cast. ". .'.■■■'■; ... : ■,'■..•;'."■ '■. '■•'■■'„' ■'. . ■ 

■ '■" '. St. Loo Chit-Chat .'' ■.. 

' St Louis. July 11 . 

Sterling, new. house in ■ Sterling; 
111 . ready to open Labor Day,- 

While Frank J. Glenn, owner of 
Ashley .Ashley, 111., and other houses 
in Southern Illinois, is in Army, Ins 
brother-in-law, Glenn Hilemaij is 
Carrying, on. , 

Gem, owned by Harold Porta, 
Richland, Mo,, . reopened after face 
lift. ."'.:'■ : ' ' .'■'•■ •.•■'■■.■■■: 



Jim Donohue, Geo. Smith 
Off on Par Zone Tours 

Jim Donohue, former district head 
at Dallas, who was recently brought 
into the Paramount homeoffice to 
head the newly-created central di- 
vision for a total of three in the 
company, left Monday (10 < oh a tour 
of his territory, the first he will 
have made since the new appoint- 
ment. 

At the same time George A Smith, 
who has the western and southwest- 
ern division, took off on a similar 
swing of his territory to discuss cur- 
rent, sales: matters, policies and plans. 



ITs 1944-45 Production Budget Upped 
Some 30% to Around 



Horowitz With Vanguard 

Sam Horowitz, formerly , with U A. 
and A, H Blank circuit of Des 
Moines, , la., goes to Noil Agncw's 
distrib staff at Vanguard Films, Inc., 
and David O. Selzniek Enterprises 
this week. /. ','' :..>•■.'' ■'■, v , v;'./ 

He reports July 15. and works out 
of Chicago. '"• ' .'■ :'".-:'V, 



Spa no Sells Out 

Forney, Texas.* July '4. 
The Spann theatre sold by J. 
Hairy Spann to W L .Mitchell, of 
-Dallas. -newcoHU'i-- Ui_thcatr.e— npenu. 
tions, Spann Was - a former Mono- 
gram Salesman. 



UV Staggered 
Ballyhoo Staff 

, Universal, which in the past has 
put on exploitation men temporarily 
When and where needed, has 
evolved: a different setup than exists 
in other companies. " 

While there will be two men on 
a regular weekly basis one tor the 
south and the other stationed in Chi- 
cago, .under the new arrangement 
the homeoffice will permanently 
carry five exploiteers pn its payroll 
.who will he assigned to various 
parts of the country as needed. 

Maurice Bergman, eastern adver- 
tising-publicity head, who is directly 
Over all exploitation. Hank Li net, 
assistant to Bergman., and Al Hor- 
wlts,. publicity .director, have been 
■going out themselves on campaigns 
and openings right along. They will 
continue to do so, .' ' . 

U's permanent representative 
headquartering in Chicago lor cov- 
erage in that area and, other terri- 
tories, is. Harry Keller, while for the 
South it's Eddie Bonus, who: will 
work Dixie, domain out of Memphis, 

Universal, not: only jeels that a 
permanent; field stall is impractical 
because there often isn't, enough 
work to do in each g ive n zone w i th 
dating also staggered a lot In these 
times,- but also that, exploited- at 
the homeoffice .will, al V ays be better 
infor med an d equipped to g o out on 
.assignment anywhere since, ttley will 
be closer to things . 



Coe's Report to N.Y. Film 
P.A.s; Home Chairmans 

Hal Home, 20th-Fox publicity 
chief, is the new chairman ot the 
Public Relations .Committee (eastern 
division) to serve six 'months. Chair- 
manship is. revolving, with different 
ad-publicity heads taking .over . for 
sixmonth terms;. 

Charles F. "Socker" Coe, Hays of- 
fice counsel and v.p;, gave the results 
of his.swingarpund the country dur- 
ing which he spoke before outstand- 
ing' business groups in some 20 cities. 
His appearances were in behalt of 
the .film industry and to get the, re- 
action of different sections to . the 
picture business,, Coe told the ad- 
publicity, heads what, the gripes were, 
and what the folks really thought 
about the picture industry, and what 
it was doing in different fields of 
endeavor; Coe's talk was keyed . as 
a benefit to the ad-pufjlicity chiefs so 
they would know mote about local 
conditions. '■>"'" '' ':••■'■.■•„"".' .<.'.■.' , 



Nayfack to Ad Agcy. 

Bertram Nayfack. who's been 
counsel for Donahue & Coe, ad 
agency for more than seven years, 
reportedly is giving up his law office 
i to assume an executive post- with that 
I agency. However, no definite deci- 
sion has been made. 

Nayfack also is United. Artists 
Theatres secretary and member of 
Its directorate. '':•■','■ .-■' .: >: '[■:^.,:' : 



DIETZ'S 'ftUIZ' SHOW 

Howard Dietz, v.p and ad-pub- 
licrty chief ot Metro, joins, the 
American, team for, the "Trans- 
Atlantic Quiz" .show, 'starting July 15 
This .'■ is . the Blue Network-British 
Broadcasting Corp, weekly feature. ■ 

Dietz ' replaces Russell Grouse, 
sharing the American side of the 
"Quiz ' wiffi - ^tu1sU)pli"eT TVIOTteyr 
writer. . . '. ' •. '?»',:'::.-":,''/■ '-. 



Universal is moving further up on 
its coming season's (1944-451 pro- 
gram, when it will, make mote so- 
called "A" pictures and substantial- 
ly increase the production budget: 
to cover. It is understood that ap- 
proximately $38,000,000, perhaps 
niore. will be spent on the product: 
which represents around 30'';, more 
than was spent oh the current sea- 
son's output. This figure Will be, an 
alltime high in the history of the 
company. >-'V ',■■■/■'.',- ; ".. 

Reported that the spending of 
more money on pictures and get- 
ting away from cheaply-ftiadft_^Bi 
features is in line with desires of 
various interests in U to raise tha 
standards of the company's product: 

Of the 55 pictures scheduled for 
release during the 1944-45 season. 18 
will be of the "A" or so-called 
.''special" character. One picture, 
"Can't Help Singing," starting 
Deanna Durbin. Will carry a budget 
of $2,600,000, highest the company 
has ever had. The smaller pictures 
on the program, including the ac- 
tioners. will all be increased in cost, 
with an average of around $100,000 
more each to be thrown into them, it 
is understood, Budget for '44-'45 Is 
further Lipped through plans to make 
seven pictures in Technicolor,: new 
high there also for U. 

Five so-called "specials." including 
two from Walter Wanger. will !>e 
sold under separate contract rather 
than as a part of the season's pro- 
'gram, under present plans. 



N. Y. Nitery's Tradeshows 

Drinks and food as a prelude to 
seeing pictures, is in the offing at 
tradeshb wings, as result, of facilities 
to be provided by the Monte Carlo, 
N. Y. restaurant-nitery . which has 
built a special projection room at its 
Beach Club Special room; to seat 
125. has been decorated by Franklin 
■Hughes. :-/ ': ' :'. , :.',.'...:■ 

— ThrTEalTy^flTm^-Web^ 
controls the Monte Carlo. 



22 



Wednesday, July 12, 1914 





OFF'«* 



**« t0 / 1944. 



It***' 



tor** 



BO" 



tin.* 



of 



1 i* w^HSfcw 'M*** 



^5^^^ of *cft&£& 



to 



, * igbwr ^ itif f* 



M»00 



_i«e »0 l * 



THANKS . . . to the great thron gs who attend ed the "bond shows" presented several time* 
daily on the stage of the Giant Bond Register in Times Square and who bought-a bond a minuteT 

THANKS . . . to the scores of artists listed below who willingly and eagerly volunteered their 
services at these bond-selling performances . . . and to their managers, press agents and repre- 
sentatives with whose help and cooperation this unusual job has been done so well. 

THANKS ... to the Actors' Equity Association, the American Guild of Variety Artists, the Amer- 
ican Federation of Radio Artists, the Screen Actors Guild, the American Guild of Musical Artists, 
the American Federation of Musicians, the United Theatrical War Activities Committee, the Holly* 
wood Victory Committee and the War Activities Committee of the Motion Picture Industry, under 
whose auspices the Cash Register was conceived and erected. 



To General Chairman C. C. Moscowitz and his staff, a deep bow for the efficient manner in which 
they arranged the many details in connection with the presentations of the shows. 



U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT 
War Finance Committee of N.Y. 
Entertainment Industry Division^ James Sauter, Chairman 



ANNABEllA 

PAUL ASH & ROXY ORCHESTRA 

TREVOR BACON 

IRINA BARANOVA 

RED BARBER 

PAT BARNES 

GRACIE BARRIE 

tOUtSE BEAVERS 

DANNY BECKNER ft ORCHESTRA 

ELIZABETH BERGNER 

IJPRY BROS. 

JtfANNE CACNEY 

LOUIS CALHERN 

CAB CALLOWAY ft ORCHESTRA 

IMOGENS CARPENTER 

RALPH COOPER 

CARLO CORELLI 

DON COSSACKS CHORUS " 

SERGIO DEL KARLO 

VIVIAN DELIA CHIESA , . 

JEAN DICKENSON V- 

DUDLEY DIGGES , 

RALPH DUMKE 

EMPIRE STATE QUARTETTI 

WILBUR EVANS 

JOSE FERRER 

BENNY FIELDS 

EDDIE GARR . : 



PATRICIA GIIMORE 
GEORGE GIVOT 
JACKIE GLEASON 
•EN GRAUER 
UTA HAGEN 
BOB HALL 

ADELAIDE HAWLEY ' . 

HARRY HIRSHFIELD 

JOY HODGES 

WILLIAM HORNE 

WILLIE HOWARD 

DEAN HUDSON ft ORCHESTRA . 

DEAN J AGGER 

HARRY* JAMES ft ORCHESTRA 

BOB JOHNSTONE 

VICTOR JORY 

SAMMY KAYE ft ORCHESTRA 

LEW KESSLER 

DENNIS KING 

JESSIE ROYCE IANDIJ 

BOBBY LANE ft CLAIRE 

CANADA LEE 

HOWARD LINDSAY 

PETER LORRE : ' "l 

•ERTLYTEll * 

INRIC MADRIGUERA ft ORCHESTRA 
IUBA MALINA 
RUTH MATTESON 



UNA MERKEl 
KATHERINE MESKIIL 
LUCKY MILLINDER 
LUCY MONROE 
MAGDA MONTEZ 
CONRAD NAGLE 
GERTRUDE NIESSEN 
NANCY NORMAN 
BRIAN O'MARA 
BIBI OSTERWAID 
JAN PEERCE 



WARREN BROS. 
WESSON BROS. 
BILLY WILLIAMS 



ANNA MAY WONO 



BARRY WOOD 
ILENE WOODS 
ARTHUR WRIGHT 
ROLAND YOUNG 



RUBY ZWERLING ft ORCHESTRA 



ond lo, ; 
CAPITOL THEATRE 




PHIL REGAN 
•ILL ROBINSON ^ 
BENNY RUBIN 
HAZEL SCOTT 
CORNELIA OTII SKINNER 
SUNNY SKYlAR 
TABS SMITH ft ORCHESTRA 
CHARLIE SPIVAK ft ORCHESTRA 
DOROTHY STICKNIV _ . , 
SALLY STUART 
JEAN TENNYSON 
TIP, TAP ft TO! 
IRNEST TRUIX 
VAl VALENTINOPF ; 



NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANV 
COLUMBIA BROAOCASTINO SYSTEM' 
THE BLUE NETWORK 
MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM 



STRAND THEATRE 
lrvin» Windiich 



PARAMOUNT THEATRE ' 
Bob Wtilmen — Bob Shapir* 

RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 
Gvi Eyiclt <- l««n Ltxnidsff 

ROXY THEATRE 

livina Ltiit r — Sum R«u«h 



★ 



Indies' Failure to Entice Clients 
Laid to Poor Quality Programming 



Expected ballooning of local pro-* 
gramming has failed to materialize 
in spite of time shortages on the net- 
works and spot time shortages on the 
indie locals. Held chiefly to blame 
is the fact that the locals themselves 
have failed to capitalize on the situa- 
tion and develop airers attractive _ to 
i commercial sponsors. The . indies;, it's, 
generally felt, are inissing out on an 
ideal opportunity to sell sponsors on 
the desirability of regional advertis- 
ing by virtue of the poor quality 
shows they have to offer. As to ar- 
gument that production of salable 
air shows runs into too much money 
considering the single outlet, agency 
men point to the airers .carried by 
web local outlets. « 
Cost of production of the Louis 
Soboi-Bordens "Bright Lights 'of 
New. York" show which is heard via 
WOR N: Y.. runs between $2,700- 
S3.100 per week, which isn't consid- 
ered a prohibitive sum for a locally 
sponsored- show.; Same station's 
Eclelbrau session, "Keep Ahead." 
runs on an even smaller budget. Pro- 
duction costs for local shows on. a 
sustaining basis would come even 
lower since talent would be willing 
to go along with show on smaller 
salaries contingent upon increases 
when sale was consummated: The 
soap operas have always been- low- 
budget shows which garnered good 
audiences and their $1.500-$2.S00 are 
not out -of proportion to local opera- 
tions and beyond what sponsors are 
willing to pay for local time. 

With the. investment of, a : little 
money and certainly more imagina- 
tion, it's ' .felt, '•' the independent 
locals could corral some of the 
big national sponsors who are 
seeking web time, but can't get it. 
Latter would undoubtedly settle for 
local time.if the quality of the airers 
offered was any guarantee of reach- 
ing a definite audience. -It wouldn't 
only prove a boon to advertisers 
seeking radio bally for their prod- 

- — ttete-otit^would-gU^_uer f o r m e i s a n - 
other market for their talents. Point-. 

. ed put that there are many topflight 
singers, comics and dramatic actors 
and actresses who get -occasional' 
guest shots, but. whose name value 
is hot. sufficient to warrant spotlight- 
ing on network shows. Outstanding- 
local sessions could utilize .this tal- 
ent, at the same time providing the 
stations -themselves 'With substantial 
income from established advertisers. 



Chi Radio Writers Want 
Showdown on Where They 
Stand on Hating the Axis 

Chicago, July 11. 
... Approval will be sought;! at '■■ to- 
night's (Tiies. ) rheeting. of the Mid- 
west Region of the Radio Writer's 
Guild oh a resolution recently passed 
by the -Eastern Region and election 
of officers will take place. Resolu- 
tion to be voted: upon provides that 
radio: writers, will not adapt any 
novel, short story, play' or any ma- 
terial unless written by members of 
the Author's League. .M turn the 
RWG will ask that the Author's 
Guild adopt a similar resolution- in 
legiircl to material written. by mem- 
bers of the. Radio Wi iter's Guild. 

Other items on the agenda will be 
reports on progress made by Ben 
Meyer; labor attorney; in Working 
out new, wage scale contracts; a dis- 
cussion on " whether, writers shall 
write to. hafe Axis enemies or not, 
and a report . from the membership 
committee. Pauline Hopkins, Sid 
Gerson and Ruth Moenck are run- 
ning unopposed for the offices of re- 
gional vice-president, treasurer and 
secretary, respectively. Eight coun- 
cil members will also be elected. 



Boake Carter Goes Off, 
Client Aims at Ferames 

Chicago, July 11. 
Chef. Boyardee Food Products 
have bought a 25-minute Saturday 
morning spot over the Blue. Network 
to replace the Boake Carter broad- 
casts heard over Mutual, Carter does 
his last shdw for Boyardee on July 
28. 

New show will be framed for 
women's appeal and Will probably 
include Beaulah Carney, home econ- 
omist .It will be heard 10:30-10:55 
a.m. (EWT) Saturdays over Blue's 
full network of 192 stations starting 
August 19, with delayed broadcasts 
tor the Mountain and Pacific coast 
areas. Contract is for 52 weeks and 
went through the McJunkin agency. 



Airing 



Dems Dress Rehearsal 
For Convention 
Gears Big Show to Radio 

- Chicago. July 11 
Tipoff on what to . expect in way of 
radio deportment at the Democratic 
National Convention, starting here 
.inly 19. was seen in the conduct of 
the Democratic State Convention 
held.-at the Stadium, last week, When 
everything was geared to radio 
time. ';'' ;;'. '' • .. -'<• - ' 

Before the broadcasts Bruce 
Campbell, chairman of the cohyen- 
tion, gave instructions to the audi- 
ence on how to act while they were 
oh the ah- and worked out a series 
of signals for their guidance. They 
were instructed to raise the roof 
when the broadcast started, with the 
result that the deafening demonstra- 
tion exceeded anything heard at the 
Republican convention; although 
there were less people in attend- 
ance. All during the air time the 
auo'.ence was controlled by Camp-, 
bell, as well as the speakers. Sen- 
ator Scott Lucas digressed a bit dur- 
ing: his' .speech and was reminded, 
while speaking, that lull advantage 
must be taken while they had the 
radio time. Mayor Edward Kelly 
gave his speech with one eye on the 
control booth and other important 
talks were spotlighted during the 
broadcast. After Kelly's speech, 
which was the .last of the pro- 
gra m med a 1 r talks! he p I ace e m p t i ed 
in a hurry, although there was other 
business on the docket, . but Camp- 
bell didn't care. He had his audi- 
ence for sound effects While the prb- 
ceediivgs were being aired. ;'.'%.' . 



'Omar' Folds Tent 
Amid Stampedes 

; Chicago, July 11. 
Stampede of midwest bobby -sox 
aiid knee-pants brigade to a ■premium 
offer "on "AdvetiTiu'es of Omar," tran- 
scribed 30-minute show aired \ over 
H— ■ ! a t-i or, s - 1 a : sed- h a v oc with deliv- 
eries in the four cities where Omar, 
Inc., Omaha milling and baking 
firm, does door-to*-door delivery of 
bakery . goods. ■ : 

Show has gone off the air for the 
summer but in order to hold the Sat- 
urday morning juvenile audience 
oyer the vacation, a lag-book was 
offered to each child who would give 
their names to the "Omar man''' when 
he called; Response was so great 
that sponsor had to call off deliveries 
to avert injury to the youngsters who 
stampeded the trucks when they ap- 
peared. In Indianapolis 4,500 stormed 
the trucks on the first day of the 
offer, a like number hi Milwaukee 
and Omaha and nearly 3.000 in Co- 
lumbus. Drivers with routes to be 
serviced had to work into the small 
hours in order to complete their 
. rounds. '. 

The Omar show, written and pro- 
duced by Herb Futran through the 
MacFarland. Aveyard agency here, 
goes back on the air in the fall 
Via platters. A recent coinci- 
dental door-tordoor survey of 6,836 
homes showed an average 16.8 rat- 
ing, 23.2 on WBNS, Columbus; 20.6 
on WTM.T. Milwaukee: - 14.9 on 
WFBM. Indianapolis, and 8.8 on 
KOWH, Omaha; ... 



Borden's Top Coin 
4-Show Splurge; 
Mulls Wynn Show 

Likely sponsorship of program 
starring Ed Wynn by Borden's Dairy 
Co. (for Hemoi points up company's 
growing importance as a radio spon- 
sor iii the last year. Outfit had spon- 
sored "Bulldog Diummond" since 
19.42. through its Horton's lee Cream 
subsid but addition of the Louis 
Sobol "Bright Lights of New York" 
session aired by WOR and the Fannie 
Hurst-Blue stanza which bowed in 
Saturday (8). gives Borden's a 
healthy representation on the air- 
waves. :; ': ;, : 

Addition of the; Wynn show to list 
would bring Borden's lip into the 
millioti-dolfar-a-year; billing , class 
for radio.. Reaction to Sobol show, 
which is heard only via the. local 
outlet, was responsible for increased 
interest in radio and subsequent air- 
ing of the Hurst session. Newspaper 
space shortages had cited .their spon- 
sorship of "Bright Lights." 



Styles-Costello 1-Minute Spot Eyed By 
Politico Time Buyers As Sock Pattern 



Field Tops Exec Staff 
To Dictate WJJD Policy; 
Hoare, Others Will Stay 

Chicago, July 11, 
With the takeover of WJJD by the 
Marshall Field interests July 5, a 
three-man executive committee com- 
posed of Marshall Field, Clem Ran- 
dau, business manager of Chicago 
Siiii, and Carl J. Weitzell, will dic- 
tate the policy of the station. The 
executive committee -members,, upon 
transfer of the slock, will become 
officers of the corpora '.Ion with Field 
as president; Randau, v.-p. and Weit- 
zell. secretary -treasurer; 
' Present plans call tor all station 
personnel, headed by -Art Haare, 
general 'manager, to remain in their 
present positions during which time 
permanent operating ; policy of sta- 
tion will be worked out. According 
to Randau, it will take approxi- 
mately 30 days from July 5 for an 
audit to be eonsumated by both sides 
-preparatory to the stock transfer. 
Majority stockholders include H; 
Leslie Atlass. Ralph L. Atlass. Philip 
K. Wrigley arid Arthur M. Linick. 

Dispute between WJJD and Chi 
Federation of Musicians was re- 
newed in reconvened hearing before 
regional War Labor Board last week, 
without results. Musicians continue 
to press their demands for a number 
of record turners in addition to the 
regular staff musicians at the station. 



NAB Code Target 
Of CIO Committee 



Washington, July 11, 

The one-minute radio spot may 
reach a new importance this year 
among time buyers for political or- 
ganizations. ,',..'.-.' 

It can be dynamite, according to 
Rep. John M: Costello (0;, Calif.), 
who was beaten for renomination at 
the recent California primaries. The 
Hollywood Congressman got up j ti- 
the House; the day Congress '. re- 
cessed for the summer, (o tell. his. 
colleagues how Hal Styles licked 
him. Costello blamed it on the CIO 
Political Action Committee, which 
has ; apparently developed a new 
technique for spot announcements. 
He gave the following verbatim 
script of one transcribed spot an- 
nouncement:' 

RECORD: I Wag absent. I was ab- 
sent I was absent. I was absent. 

WOMAN: Good heavens! Stop 
that: record. It must be broken. No 
one could "be absent that many times. 

ANNOUNCER: Oh, yes. Congress- 
man Costello 'actually- was. He hold* 
the Congressional record for ;ab- . 
senteeism. On 20 vital issues, Cos- 
tello was absent 11 times.' You pay 
him $10,000 a year, and Costello is 
the champion absentee in America. 
He. is. the. original little man who 
wasn t there! 

RECORD: I was absent. I was ab- 
sent, I Was absent. 

WOMAN: Stop it! I can't stand 

;it! •'.-' ,y ■-••;/; ',.-■: - :>■ ::■ 

ANNOUNCER: The only ; way to 
stop Costello's record is to vote for 
Hal Styles on May 16. Hal Styles 
will support our commander-in-chief. 
Back the boys' bullets with your bal- 
lot. Vote for Hal. Styles'. 

The one-minute spot has been used 
for a number of years in political 
campaigns all over the country, but 
nothing like the job done in the C'o.s- 
tello-Styles campaign had ever beeti 
attempted before. 

Politicos here/ studying the Cos- 
telio speech in the Congressional' 
record; have caught on,' and the last 
weeks of the election campaign are 



GROUCHO TAKES LAST 
QUAFF OF THAT BEER 



Duffy's Barmaid 

Hollywood. July 11. 
Ed Gardner has obtained a "Miss 
Duffy" for his radio show next sea-. 
man. ] 

■ Gal who will play part is Florence 
Robinson, who was in "Personal Ap- 
pearance" stage' show both in New 
York and here. ' 



Hollywood, July 11. 

agency; has -'Cleaned- up/rHr"vW".'rf£l! 
with Grolicho. Marx and the weeks 
owed by the comic On this current 
commitment have been forgiven. 
Su in n i e r ' j>£ in p jfcith Kpnny R;» ker. 
and Robert Armbrusle'r's music car- 
ries on through to Jan,;6 when the. 
Danny Kaye show tees up. 

Deal for Phil Raop to write and 
direct the Kaye stanza- has reached 
an impasse and there's some talk he 
may. cast his lot with Marx this 
fall oh a show being negotiated by 
William Murray •>'( the William 
Morris ageh.cyi Paul Warwick re- 
turned; to New' York last, weekend 
without disclosing whether Dick 
Mack, producer of the - Marx pro- 
gram, would be retained as the 
agency director on the. Kaye show. 

Aftermath of the Kaye package 
buy foi $16,000 brought to light re- 
ports .that Warwick initiated the 
Kaye negotiations after Fred Allen 
had refused a package offer of 
$25.d00 weekly. Comic is. said to 
'nave blown the overture with the 
clincher tha t he didn't care to Work 
a beet show. 



Webs Start Shifts 
To Pacific Zones 

St.epped-up coverage of the U. S.- 
Japanese Pacific war by. the major 
networks, with combat. c.o\ respon- 
dents taking posts on American War- 
ships in that area, became a reality 
this week. The Blue network has 
shifted Bill Ewing and Bill Baldwin, 
news announcers stationed in Hono- 
lulu, to battlecraft, and also ordered 
Clete Roberts from his post in the 
South ''Pacific-Australian 1 '-, area 'to a 
secret assignment on a U. S. vessel. 

Army cooperation in securing 
complete coverage of the far-flimg 
Pacific fighting territory also took a 
definite turn for the better when it 
was learned that Capt. Abe Sehech- 
te'r, former head of the NBC special 
events division hi N. Y.. had been 
ordered from a Washington assign- 
ment to Gen. MacAi-lhur's, headquar- 
ters a.s chief radio liaison, and head 
of the radio division. 

G. W. Johnstone. Blue web news 
and special events topper, reportedly 
will go to the Coast early in August, 
wi'.h reports that he's skedded to go 
on to Honolulu and possibly sev- 
eral points in the South Pacific, to 
oversee the setting up of coverage 
for his web, .'■ • ;, 

Moves follow, closely on the. heels 
!}l % .i.eetins! last week, as, reported 
MOji'te.' Variety,' that the 
U.'S. Navy has set. machinery- in rho- 
tion lor speedier transmissioir ;'. of 
battle news; in the Pacific. The ses- 
sion, attended by hews chiefs Paul. 
White. CBS. John Whittmore, MBS, 
Bill Brooks. NBC, and Johnstone, for 
the networks, and several Navy of- 
ficers headed by Lt. Cmdr. J.; Harri- 
son Hartley, USNR^ resulted in the 
drawing up of a seven-point pro- 
gram to bring the neus to the U. S. 
radio aiidience without censorship 
troubles, etc., that lioid up coverage 
currently. . ■ 



Claim that "the National Assn, of 
Broadcasters Code may raise serious 
q uestions u nder the anti-trust laws" 
i s"made~b7ThTTJT6~ToTT^ 



annoiintenicnt with an intensity and 
shrewdness never before tried. 



Committee in a radio handbook to 
be published soon. Code is tabbed 
' a private document put out by some 
broadcasters, and having no stand- 
ing whatever in law or before the 
Federal Communications Commis- 
sion." .', ': '>'•' .'■ 

Primer on use of radio is the first 
move in labor's drive for air time. 
The handbook explains labor's claims 
to radio time aiid means for union 
locals to obtain such time and what 
to do when they, get it. Particular 
stress is laid on fact that broadcast- 
ers don't own the air but merely 
the means of broadcasting and that 
they are licensed to use the air 
waves on franchise from the people 
through their agent, the ©bvern- 
ment. vY'.-; ' ■''/''. ' . 

Handbook further reveals that 
PAC proposes to demand air time 
to reply to anti-labor statements 
made over network programs, point- 
ing out that refusal by any Web of I paiii. Services were held July 8 in 
such time puts the broadcasters in a | Los Angeles. 



Danny Danker Dies On 
Coast at 41; Started Mass 
Agency Swing to FT wood 

.;.-; Hollywood, July li. 
Daniel Joseph Danker, Jr.. 41. one 
of the outstanding agency figures in 
radio for the past lO-y.earS, died sud- 
de.nly.of a heart attack July 5 in his 
hotel bungalow in Beverly Hills: He 
had returned to his office at J. WaN 
ter Thompson that day for the first 
lime in six weeks, having been put 
on the rest, cure by his physician. 
Apparently in good health on his re- 
turn and unaware of the heart con- 
dit ion. Danker died withing a few 
minutes. after complaining of a chest 



Gene Rouse Takes Over 
Blue Programming in Chi 

Chicago. July 11. 
, Gene sRonse, who has been head 
.of the Blue Network's ".central divi- 
sion news and special events depart- 
ments, has b^en appointed program 
director of the Blue here effective 
immediately. 

He succeeds James Stilton, who 
entered the Marines last week. : 



particularly vulnerable position 
when license renewals come up be- 
fore the FCC. Action against local 
broadcasters by union locals is also 
recommended and locals are cau- 
tioned to get refusals for time in 
writing. Copies are then to be sent 
to. FCC and PAC which will file 
them for use at future FCC hearings. 
Locals are also advised to demand 
representation on ' NAB listening 
councils, to present labor's views in 
councils' program evaluation and 
production activities. 

Primer explains types of airers 
aiid emphasizes advantages of dra- 
matic material as opposed to talks. 
Spot announcements are also under- 
lined^ Latter will probably be first 
entry by labor into broadcasting set- 
up if plans now under consideration 
jell. Extensive campaign via spots 
jsibeing worked out by CIO which 
is also eyeing FM licenses as pro- 
viding a foothold in the broadcasting 
field. The more powerful locals are 
seeking AM outlets with United 



Starting as an office boy with the 
Thompson agency in New York upon 
his graduation from Harvard hi 1925, 
Danker moved up fast, in the com- 
pany after he was dispatched to Hol- 
lywood to open a Coast radio office. 
He was soon after made executive 
manager of the Hollywood office, 
raised to vice-president in 1937 and 
last year elected to the board of di- 
rectors. Danker, more than any one 
man. is responsible for the swing 1° 
Hollywood some years ago by agen- 
cies and its present eminence as 
origination point of glamor and com- 
edy shows. From the time he moved 
Lux Radio Theatre, his pel. to (he 
Coast from New York there was a; 
steady stream 61 programs to cash 
in on this new western bonanza— 
glamor. *".•.'■..'•'"■.' 

It wasn't easy for Danker when he 
hit the Coast 15 years ago to solicit 
film-star testimonials for Lux soap 
and incidentally sell the picture stu- 
dios on the value of radio. He finally 
broke down the resistance of studio 



Automobile Workers seen as first ..die-hards and the surge westward by 
station in ] other agencies became almost a inass 
movement. In'the past 10 years lie 
had signed checks for film and radio 
stars running: into' iiiany millions. 

Quiet, unassuming and wi:h 3 
greater personal acquaintance in the 
aim business than any Other individ- 
ual, Danker for a time was known 
as the unofficial mayor of Holly- 
wood. A score or more of film stars 
got their first taste of radio under 
his tutelage and went on to head 
their own programs, Danker leaves 
his widow, Lorena Layson Danker, 
former film actress: seven-year-old 
daughter Suzanne, and . two ..sisters 
living in Boston. : 



labor group acquiring 
new drive. 

Pamphlef ends with sample Scripts 
for talks, spots and dramatic skits 
and. a series of questions to be an- 
swered by union locals. Material re- 
ceived in answer to these questions 
is regarded by CIO- as ample evi- 
dence in. the case of labor vs. the 
broadcasters when showdown battle 
develops. ' , 



Houston. — KTRH Broadcasting 
Co. has filed an application in Wash- 
ington for permission to construct a 
new $50,000 .high frequency broad- 
casting station. 



PUSH NEW AUDIENCE HYPO 



| Major Nets Top $16,(1,(1 

For May, 31% Over Year Ago 



Cross billhigs, for the lour major 
net works topped $16,000,000 for the 
month Of May, representing a 31 w <r 
• increase over , last -year's gross time 
-rales Of $12,354,431 for the same, 31- 
c!i,v period. The billings represent a 
substantial - increase over .last 
months total" of $15,665,229. CBS 
again' was put in front with $5,862.- 
OfiT. with Mutual lops oh percentage 



increase (4Ki ) over the same period 
last. year, 

VOh 'the /cumulative, side, total bill-, 
ipgs for the first five Months reached 
an unprecedented high of $78,065,344 
for a 35% boost over last year's $57.- 
675.291 covering . the five-month 
period.. Mulual's total was 74'i-, with 
the Blue's $15,283,583 foj'.the;- fiye 
months representing a 45'i increase 
over last year. 





Network Gross Time 


Sales 






' i Estimated) 








- 7:44 FOR MAY 








' . :-'k> '''=.-■:-/■': " ' 1!H4 


. 1943 


Pet 




$3,335,170 


$2,130,438 


56 


Columbia. . 


V. ..'.4. . ,'4. 4. ; 5;862,0t)7 ■ - 


• 4.880,045 . 


• 19 


Mutual ,47. 


.«,.,,, . 1,535.362 


1,089.746 „ ; 


■ ■ 441 




. 5,423.801 


4.254:212 


• 28 




$16,156,430 


$12,354,431 


-31 




FOR FIRST FIVE MONTHS 






; .'■'.,> 1344 


1943 


Pet 


Blue . ... 


. ; ,vV. . . ^w. $15,283,583 


$10,495,216 ■''■' 


445 


Columbia . 


... 28,426.103 


21,924,184 


- +29 


Mutual .. 


8.382.054 


. 4.813,480 


■ -1-74 


NBC ..... 


- . ... , . 25,973,604 


20.442.411 


4-26 




$78,065,344 


$57,675,291 


- *r.3S 



SE£ K ' SU ST AJN E D ' I Waring Show ($18,500) in Spot 

To Aim at Ex-Sponsor's Program 




LI 



Greater Abundance of Guestar Talent 
May Force Coast Shows to Switch East 



7 Possibility, is seen of some of the* 
nighttime air shows moving east 
fioin the Coast next season because 

"of the difficulties encountered-— irr 
pacting pic guest stars and refusal of 
studios to release sought-for stars for 
even short-term air contracts. It's 
felt' that, in view of the ban, the 
abundance of legit-radio-vaude -tal- 
ent in. the east might be the answer. 
Latest snag was reportedly en- 

' countered in trying to line up Gene 
Kelly to take over the Bob Crosby- 
Old Gold show, now that Crosby 
has .gone into the Marines. Kelly 
did a recent guest shot on the pro- 
gram, with the sponsor so please* 
\y 1th the results that overtures were 
initiated to pact him for the series. 
However. Metro,: to wh ich Kelly is 
tinder contract, refused.- to release 
him, .reserving the right to yank the 
•sttfr Whenever it needed him, so- the 
deal \vent cold. ■'•*'■ 

Result is that -the. show may be 
b: ought east,' with the . program 
meanwhile continuing; .in a state of 
iltix . with a continuation of. the 
guestar policy.. 



Writers to Get Air 
Credits Under Terms 
Of New Guild Pact 

New contract between the Radio 
Writers Guild and CBS, NBC and 
1 be Blue networks, covering dra- 
matic and continuity: writers calls 
for air credits for writers and de- 
fines their rights to their material. 
Pact also sets .salary Iviinimiims. tor 

; Matter's;- provides .for holidays and 
contains' a job security clause. Air 
credits are to he'. given '."whenever 1 
v tu i anted as a re -'lilt of general 

. writing excellence', hoy city,, original* 

■ ity . or 'other special .characteristic?. 
Old contract gave' the webs 10',;. 

. o| take from use ot senpteis' ma- 
terial by' (ele interests but new con- 

. tract gives the nets .'nothing. Scrip- 
tors aiso yet l.'OO'i from, use oi ma- 
terial for legit : productions, VS'o'loi' 
pix,, 90 'i (rom books newspapers 
and- .niiigasunes. 50';. .from record- 
ings and 50'7 from merchandise. 

'• Agreement .is. lor iJiree years but 
the Guild has. the i Mil . to reopen 
negotiations after, one. year. \VLB 
..recently approved pact between. 1 the 
Guild and the NBC short wave . d i v,t - 
Jsion .wi t h a ; ret roa c t i v.C el a use to hist 
. August. : Contract sets, sakiry.7ni.iii' 
munis for between 50-60 -Staffers 
She webs intprnatiomit division. ; 



THIS IS MY BEST' 
FORCRESTA BLANCA 

Dramatic series, tabbed "This Is 
My Best," featuring dramatization of 
Whit Burnett's collection of short 
stories written, by best writers in 
U: S„ replaces the Alec Tem- 
pleton-Mprton Gould "Carnival" in 
the fall. The' .Tempieton-Gould 
combo is off for the summer, "The 
Doctor Fights" has been filling the 
time for Schenley's. .'■;... ,-■ . 

StaiMsa debuts on Sept. 5. Temple- 
ton and Gould haven't lined up other 
spots for the fall but expect to do so 

SOOn. - ' ." 74 . ■ 



Network and . agency execs are 
currently preoccupied with estab- 
lishing a nighttime schedule .pri- 
marily aimed at' a sequence in pro- 
gramming that will, follow a like 
pattern over. an extended period. 

For -.pine time it's been the feeling 
that the networks, in viewing- each 
program individually and. strictly 
from a production standpoint, have 
been overlooking the wider horizon 
of maintaining an audience over A 
prolonged period of. the evening. 
With, this in view and gearing their 
schedules 'to contain , an: .interlocking, 
group of programs that: will: create 
a sustained mood, tire- webs, in set- 
ting .up' such a structure; it s felt, 
should go. far in achieving the de- 
sired results, at least from a listen- 
er s point of view: 

It s felt that a net s series of; pro- 
grams' over, say. a two-hour period, 
might each measure tip as ..'sock, en- 
tertainment,. but colleclively.it would 
span thei comedy-variely-dramatic 
gamut. Now- the object will be to so 
shift 111* skeds so that the; ear-bender 
could remain tuned to a particular 
network: for a reasonable evening's 
period .without disrupting his mood. 
Some agency and net reps have long 
contended that only by Catering to 
such a sustained mood ,bver-'..an'-e.x- 
tended period, even a.s- a two-hour 
play or film attraction can hold in-; 
lerest, can a web achieve the most 
de.-.rsble results, , 
'". It's basically "the motive that's al- 
ready influenced the shifting of some 
of the top-budgeted nighttime shows 
when they return to the air in the 
fall, with even more radical resched- 
uling slated before the '44445 season 
swings into full operation. . 

In stabilizing its audiences', how- 
ever, the question arises whether a 
net is not curbing the possibility of 
increasing its listener pull, by the 
limited, appeal of the programs. 



Hicks' Bonus 

Geosge Hicks, Bine network 
London , oil ice news chief.: this 
week was awarded a $1,000 bonds 
by the web for his on-the-spot 
broadcast , frbiri a Navy landing 
craft on D-Day June 6. 

Program, which was recorded, 
pooled, and aired by all U, S. net- 
works.' is considered by the trade 
. to be most, dramatic action stainra 
to come. out of this wai'V 



Legit Tryouts On 
Hopkins Air Show 

Arthur Hopkins plans to present 
originals by: relatively unknowns, in 
addition to his own Broadway pro- 
ductions of yesteryear , on his NBC 
"Arthur Hopkins Presents'' airer. 
But. certain kinks must, first be' 
ironed out, Hopkins feels that ses- 
sion provides ail ideal test for new. 
legit material and also - that the. 
stanza, ought to provide an Outlet fdr ; 
untried but nevertheless worthwhile 
talents.?'- ;'.\7' .'-,'' 

' If plan is okayed by nets and play- 
wright in question agrees,, Hopkins 
will. soon present a play which has 
aroused the producer's interest. , 



Agencies, Clients 
Squawk As Dailies 
Nix Air Show Ads 

. Curtailment of newspaper adver- 
tising, particularly in the radio sec- 
tion of dailies,,- is. ..causing more 
than a little concern to advertisers, 
agencies and the .networks. ' 
' With more expensive hot, weather 
airers on the webs this year than in 
the past.: the problem of publicizing 
and ballyhooing fhese stanzas to ra- 
dio listeners has taken on increasing 
importance, with heavy coin appro- 
priated for the purpose by sponsors. 
Net result so far has been that most 
sheets: are turning down ads .placed 
by the agencies on their radio page 
and other pages, with the agencies 
having to go to the local affiliate-web 
stations, asking them to try to obtain 
space in their local papers. . " 7 ~~ .,. 
.-' Among summer shows involved in 
the situation are the Colgate Theatre 
-or .Romance. .lames . Melton , show. 
Electric Auto-Lite's "Everything for 
the Boys" and "Blue Ribbon Town." 
with Kenny Baker. "Romance.", which 
replaced Judy Canbva. had a $13,000' 
advertising budget for 'local station 
insertions in 155 : papers, and' has had 
difficulty in placing the bulk of the 
appropriation. . James Melton, Fred 
Allen.sub. had . a $7,500 sum7.with 
hardship encountered in disposing of 
That anticipated hypo of, network j the. amouirt,, 'M-erxihlU Jt^dti it :■ the 

' Boys." Ronald Colman replacement. 



Radio Fails to Get 
Post D-Day Hypo 



shows during ..the summer period, 
following in the wake of D-day and 
predicated on the theory that news- 
casts of subsequent developments in. 
.France would reflect itself in greater 
listener pull for all nighttime . pro- 
grams, has failed to come off, In fact, 
Hooperatings for the period from 



has had a .similar. experience. "Blue 
Ribbon Town" spent most of. its $'),- 
500 in 127 papers, but also had sev- 
eral rejections. ' ■ ','-.. 
. Squawk from advertisers and 
agencies is that, while tlrey're. cogni- 
zant of the paper shortage, neverthe- 
less they feel that paper.? ..'are .dis- 
criminating insofar <is radio aciverfis 



* The Fred Waring "write your own' 
ticket" deal . .with. O.wens-.lilinois 
Ci lass was pacte'd over the. past: week- 
end, alter the Waring-Philco Rnoio 
Hall of Fame" deal weilt cold. It has 
several eyebi ow-i aismg aspects tliat-' 
have .created considerable interest 
and speeuiatibii within the trade, "v 
. Aside from grabbing himself a > e- 
ported $18,500 for a weekly iiiil!-. 
hour Blue Network show ..built- 
around his Peimsylvaniaiis orch. and ' 
choral ensemble, .Waring can win . 
back his legion of followers bu.i.It up 
over the past five years while under 
contract, to Chesterfield! for. the 7- 
7 15 p.m. across-the-boqrd NBC show 
from which he recently bowed put.- 
By going into the 7-7:30 thursclay 
■night slot on. the. Biue. bcg.nning. 
Sept. 7, , Waring, in effect, has a, 
tailor-made audience' : that's been 
around for. years: ."4 7 1 7- 

Just what that'll, do to' the: Johnny 
Mercer-Chesterfielci opposition pro- 
gram- is what intrigues the trade, 
aside from, the ' tact that Waring s 
ex-ciggie boss probably isn't feeling 
any too happy over the turn; of 
even IPs. -For .one thing, the Mercer 
layout hasn't exactly been in the big-... 
league class lo which , the Chester- 
field addicts had been accustomed 
over, the past half, decade. Further- 
more, it's lip secret, that. Waring 
wouldn't mind further: upsetting the 
Chesterfield rating,. lor 'personal, re.a-, 
sons. ' . "7 ; *., ; 

Deal gives Waring carte blanche 
in whipping up the entire produc- 
ifott; with the agency on the Owens-. 
Illinois account,. J; W^alter Thompson, 
simply providing the announcer for 
the program. Pact is on a 52-week 
basis, . with an option ' for another 
\-ear. There'll be a repeat for the 
Coas.t at. 11:30-12 (midnight) iEWT). 
Show will be tabbed "Fred Waring 
and his PciVi>s.vlvaniSris.*''v;.7..'- >•.•• ..•:' 
Splurge for the Waring outfit puts 
Owens-illinois among the top- : 
budgeted show-spehders in radio, 
with the client among the early bid- 
ders for Waring as soon' as, news 
leaked out that he was parting with 
Chesterfield. Sponsor's current CBS 
daytime show, "Broadway Matinee." 
calls it . quits on; Aug. .4,. with O-I 
long dissatisfied with its afternoon 
time and; anxious to step into night- 
time radio. Unusual sidelight is that 
-Patsy Garrett,- co-star of the- "Mat- 
inee" program, is an alumna of the 
'Waring-ChesterfieJri' show. 

Donna Dae, Waring's fernme 
singer, currently on a tour of theatre 
dales, will be back in the. fold for 
the show's bow-in, • 



'Blondie' Shfulriing Over 
To Blue Before Coming 
Home to Roost on CBS 

Blue network get the Colgate 
iSuper-Siids) "Bloiidie" after all but 
ohiy.for a limited period. Airer will- 
bow in on the B7te Jyly 21, as prevf- 
ously reported, :but will return to 
CBS at the end of October after. « 
! 1-wcck Mr.v on the Blue v .. 

Stanza w:!!. go into the Sunday, 
R-8 30 p:m. 'spot, on CBS opposite 
Edgai- Bergen. Latter ,<pot was y«- 
eated by.cancelhiti.oh 'Of the. Good- 
year Ritbbei Stai and the ..Story", 
session/.- 74 7 ''' '■ ■ 7-7; ; -"•: 



June 15-21 indicate that just the re-; j,^ is c()IK . e rned by refusing ads, at 
verse is true. Not only ■.did* the ma-! ,; he sal , 1e Ulne ' continuing to a«.'epl 
joritrof the top 15 programs on the i afls h) other seel ion.s of the paper 
air for the period fail- to maintain . wilhout a()y resM . j( . ti((n!i i, w ,ic^\ 
previous rating, but many of them , aspec t of the matter is that many of 
took a nosedive. And. oddly enough, | , he p ape rs nixing radio ads continue 
the Walter Wincheil Sunday night | to. 'win' VeRtiJa'r ids on the product 
program took the biggest drop of all ! pl „ gsc d bv .the radio programs: 
to 15-:down .3,6, from tile previous ^ AcU o( ' cour<c . a ,- e aimed at -that 

lil i;. n , K '. 7 -4'. ■■■■" ,7 ' segment of the. listening public that 

,,lhe heavy . bankrolling of- summer ; y.,,^,,^ pel : use . rijdio )b)m g s , m, 
replacement shows was , cued lo the with tlve ba| y ,„, V!i(iio arfs : in lh( , ir 
belief that the^ public s ; d6stre, ,/pr claily papers - ,^- t a wa:-e of the new 
flashes .from, the 'western fighting I ,. ()gl .., m , (m .;. e air . . ; 
front* would, keep audiences glued to , Thg nix : OM lhe ra( | io a ^ is 



their dials. Thus the: agencies, on 



generally regarded as one more evi 



behalf of their clients, have been , . ften$e ^ newspapers', "viewing with 
bent on capitalizing on the antic, \ aUitucie tinv; „. ( ,' , ; „ lio ofc ,, il .,, 

.paled h.g'n war. fever of public reac- | <)f laUe ," s inroads on ad revenue; 
tion to achieve full me.i chandising ; , - .- ..- :; ■ ■" ■ • 



Out of Weintraub As 
Agency Pace Slackens 

Slackening; of radio" a'ctivTry 



San Antonio. — Coi'wih : R'iddt-11. 
ncv s chx'f of WOAI lot the p'iisf )4 
i veal s and one of the oldest nv.jnb<*vv 
I of lis staff msigned his post . in ha* 
it, b< r-iiiile . fifl iliitfcct willi K ABC. iieie 
j.Hb news comnu ntator. s 



sales returns. But. on the basis ..of; ; 
what's been';ijappen.ing;;'one;'cohclii- [ U.-Lp,.* r|i«j n 'fharlf* 
sive factor is pointed out— war or no IIUUCI I . Vllalll VllCltVS 

war. fiie Americari public has settled 
into its ..usual summertime, com- 
placency, wilh . the '.attendant sharp 
drop in sets-in-use; . '■ 7 . • ''.; . 

-Along with • Wincheil, the Kay 
Kvser Wednesday night program. 
! 'replaced last week by. Phil Harris>'i'WfHiiim If. Weinfratib agency cued 
i: took ah <il most equally sharp drop of , 'he rtslgi.n.tioii .last .\Vcck of Hubert 
,,1.5 foi me -econd-half of the show . Chain, as radio production manage' 
f a it h the first half-hour down l.fi Cin.in w ,il open' his ovn production 
f'The Scieen Guild. Players nosedived ,-offlce. Wemt/aub lust - the Cresia 
{3.1 points; "Mr,' £)islr'tct Attorney" Blanci u< count in June a;,d uith the 
j .• i it-down 27 and Lux Radio .The- Xaviec Cugat-Dubonn-et ai: er oft for 
i hUe was oft 1,4. Onlv foiu shows jii the sunfiner and ret-urii.ng in lhe .falj 
j The top 15 showed a plus, these being ■■ only cm the Don. Lee set, there ? not 
i'.Joiin DiiviS' Jack Hajcy with 0.8 rmitii •h.tiiii3ung..in ttiow arout'd the 

bciciih Fi4nk Morgnn-Fanmc Rikp WcihtiWib office, 
j i i;ov oft- fbt> the summer ) . up 2.(i, .. .Ch»in wiU pioducc, i.s a .fre( UiKf 
i B.iig C.'o-bv.. with 0.2 .nciea-e and" sosno ot the t cvsinm. ijvo}'<%\tkl- by Xhv 
I "AVrii.t;! Fuiii.ly" up O.8.- i agfcht:} for fall 



Chi Firm Plunks Down 
$14,000 As 1st Sponsor 
Of Int'l Golf Tourney 

Chicago, July 11. - 
For the first time in the history of 7 
golf; a national open tournament Vyill. 
tie .sponsored and aired by a network 
when the Tam-O-Shanter " matcht-s 
are' held here Sunday. August 27. 
During the past four years event, has 
been picked up partially : by, Js'BC, 
CBS. and Mutual and fed sustaining 
over some of their stations. This: 
year it will be broa(icast over ..the 
NBC network under the sponsorship, 
of . the George 's. May :.Co., .Chicago ; 
ii.dustrial engineers; 
;.. Efforts are being ma'de : to clear the 
6:30-7:00 p.m. 'CWTi slot On that 
date over the full network and. plans 
call- for -a- summary of.. the event by. 
Bill Stern with the po-noihty of 
some, play-by -jiluy description. "One;' 
trine, show wjil .cost the May; Co. 
around $14,000. Tournament pays the 
largest amount in pi'r/.es. of any golf 
matcfi' in: ,the country and divivs 
crack pUiyers froih .cpa.st-to-coi.st. 



FCC Orders Rehearing 
On WOV (N Y.) Transfer 

. , , Washington. July H. 
FCC -has' ordered a icheiu ng on 
the pctitiTn^of Ardc Buiova to. trans- 
fu WOV. New York, to Murryy ami 
-.Mc\ei- M.cstei ,, 

Action was taken to per-nd/ Rich- 
ard Ei O Dey, I'mnoiity , stock. 'iqlder, 
to iiilcnene. ■ 



26 



RADIO 



Wednesday. July 12, 1944 



Heat Wave Grills Gag Concocters; 
Agencies Make Plenty Concessions 



Time was when only .-stars on the-* 
airers were iti'a position to demand 
a summer layoff but shortage of 
comedy scripters has brought about 
situation where top writers can dic- 
tate their own terms and these of 
late have included guarantees of va- 
cations. Agencies are bowing to 
scripters' demands in order to be 
sure their favorite penmen will be 
on tap come September. 

Situation has resulted in agencies 
hiring second and third choices to 
writ.: summer comedy replacement 
shows and is definitely reflected in 
quality ot the shows themselves. 
Few of the hot weather comedy' 
airers have rung the bell as yet and 
agency men blame this on inability 
to get the scripters they want 
coupled with the fact that if they 
manage to get the man they want 
lie's not quite up to his usual stand- 
ards because he really didn't want to 
work during the hot weather any- 
way. Agency execs are looking for 
some way to needle the boys into 
putting out in spite .-.of the heat. 

Only solution yet suggested is that 
the end of the war and subsequent 
release of writing talent from the 
armed forces will, stir lip the script- 
ers and the honeymoon will be over. 
Then the agencies will have "their 
day" and the boys who write the 
shows will have to roll up their 
sleeves and work at top speed re- 
gardless of the weather or any other 
extraneous factors. 

Also! pointed out that replacement 
comics are more in need' of boff ma- 
terial than the Hopes, Aliens, 
Marxes. etc., who often can salvage 
only so-so gags by their own in- 
herent showmanship and ability. 
Lesser lights, as new-born season at- 
tests, don't pack enough wallop to 
rescue .material being handed them. 



Nagel Going Off for Pic 

Conrad Nagel will take four Sun- 
day night? off from his Radio Read- 
er's Digest airer in August' to go to 
Hollywood to do a picture for. Mono- 
gram. :"' 
. Actor is now playing the Leven- 
thal subway circuit- around N. Y. in 
the anti-Nazi drama, "Tomorrow. the 
World," appearing in Flatbush last, 
week and the Bronx currently, Rob- 
ert: Stewart has been subbing for 
Nagel 'Sunday af ternoon and evening 
in the legiter because, of latter's 
radio stint, < 



"Pancake" Pancake 

Latest spat production by 
Kent-Johnson. Inc., for PiUsbury 
pancake flower enlists the serv- 
ices of a full band under Jeff 
Alexander's baton, a vocal soloist 
and calliope, no less! Featured is 
an original tune, "Pancake Scr- 
enadc." ■ . 

■ "Pancake'' pancake is being 
released through McCann, Erick- 
son. : ' ' 



Burnett Billings 
Top 



From the Production Centres 



f/V NEW YORK CITY ... 

Claire.. Barry, of the singing Barry Sisters' duo, featured on WHN's 
"Gloom Dodgers,' to marry Al Weinberg. . . Louise Kadison has rcUirned ' 
to her former post of publicity director, of WBYN. Brooklyn. . . Harry 
Trcuner leaves Mutual sales dept. on July 24 to join Weintraub agency , . .. 
With Richard Stark going into the Marines, -William Lazar takes over' 
announcing chores on the Squibb show and Dwight Weist will handle the 
*f Abie's Irish Rose" stanza.; .Sammy Walsh, whose forthcoming USO 
-overseas' trip will give him five up for a new record, guests on the "Fitch 
Bandwagon" show July 16. .. .Red Barber pacted for scries of Pathe 
Sportscasts. .- .Despite the fact that one of the King Sisters (Dot) is being 
treated .for; serious throat ailment, gals continue to do their five weekly CBS 
broadcasts. - : - •'••;•.'.•. " " ' - ' : . ■ ■ . -•" '"■"',' 

Joan Banks, title player in CBS's "Valiant Lady" series, moving her fam-. 
ily in from Connecticut to take over Irene, Bordoni's former manse,.:. 
Peggy Blake takes over the writing assignment on NBC's '-Just Plain .Bill"' 
Bennett Kilpaek, who plays the title role of "Mr. Keen. Tracer of 



FCC Sets Aug. 1 5 Hearing 
Date on UAW Charge Of 
WHKC's Free Speech Curb 

'-.-■:■ Columbus, July 11. 
The FCC will hold a hearing Aug. 
15 on a petition by the United Auto- 
mobile Workers, (CIO) Columbus, 
protesting renewal of the license of 
WHKC. .operated by the United 
Broadcasting Co.. on the charge ttia 
the station is throttling free speech 
An application for renewal of the 
license was granted by the FCC 
without hearing on May 16. 
. The FCC also ordered United 
Broadcasting to file a statement by 
Aug 5 concerning -the operation of 
the station, with particular. reference 
to the union's allegations. The union 
has complained sharply of the sta- 
tion, which it charged had censored 
a portion of a speech made by UAW 
v.p, Richard T. Frankensteen. Union 
officials said that though they had 
paid the full rates charged, they 
were forbidden to discuss any con- 
troversial issue, race, religion, or 
politics, Or to seek new members 
over the air, :■. -' - ''.. ••• - '., 



ENGLISH MAG ARTICLE 
CUE TO COMM'LBBC? 

London, June 26. 
'-Transatlantic." a London-printed 
monthly now hearing the end of its 
first year of publication, has for a 
ecent feature a lengthy description 
of commercial broadcasting as de- 
veloped in. the. U.. S, Although the* 
mag's ostensible purpose is to pro : 
mote good relations between the two 
countries, this glorification of spon- 
sored programs in contrast to the 
relative quality of BBC offerings is 
taken in some quarters to be the 
opening sljot in a campaign to com- 
pel Broadcasting House to. scrap the 
present policy in favor of the Amer- 
ican system. -' ; ■ -'•.•; ''.;- v-.s ■". '-".;'': 
By implication, the stressing of 
the dollals-and-cents importance of 
popuiaV' features to networks de- 
pending on their ability to convince 
advertisers of listener interest is 
taken here to mean BBC would 
starve to death if, being similarly 
dependent, it had to rely on its 
present product As it is, of course, 
the ever growing chorus of con- 
demnation by newspaper critics of 
current BBC features— ^like the let- 
ters of protest from troops serving 
overseas— -doesn't cause so much as 
a ripple of apprehension among 
BBC officials 

While, as "Variety" has pointed 
out. there is no possibility of a 
change of policy until the expira- 
tion in 1946 of the BBC's present 
charter, it should be borne in mind 
nothing ever happens quickly in this 
country If. in fact, the "Transat- 
lantic" article is the start of a sys- 
tematic campaign aimed at bringing 
the BBC into line with the American 
system, it is by no means prema- 
ture To convince the British 
people any change is desirable— and, 
in a country where everything new 
is suspect, nothing could be more 
difficult— 24 mouths of propaganda 
are none too many 



Chicago, July 11. . 
, Ad -.agencies' that have adopted the 
attitude that with all good network 
time sold there is little chance of in- 
teresting their clients in radio might L°st Persons," authored script for the CBS thriller last week, thereby 
well take a page from the book of realizing a longstanding ambition. .While director Martha Atwell vaea 

tipiis.l'or the next three weeks. Arthur Haiina and Gen 



the Leo Burnett agency here which 
has rah its annual network billing 
from $600,000 to better than $3.- 
000,000 "in little more than a year. 

Agency currently has five show.s 
on: the networks with a sixth sched- 
uled to start in the fall. Shows in- 
| elude: "Life. of Riley," aired over the 
Blue sponsored by the Meat Institute 
of America; Upton Close, heard over 
Mutual, sponsored by Lumberman's 
Mutual .Casualty Co.; H. V. Kalten- 
born. aired over NBC. for Pure Oil; 
Smilln'. Ed .McConneH over NBC for 
Brown Shoe Co.; K. C. Jamboree, 
Heard over NBC, sponsored by the 
Jacques Manufacturing Co.; and 
"Santa Fe Playhouse," half-hour 
dramatic show sponsored by the 
Sante Fe Railroad, scheduled to hit 
the air in September. . 

Top drawer selling job is attrib- 
uted to Frank Ferrin v.p. in charge 
of radio who joined the agency little 
more than a year ago, coming from 
the H. W. Kastor agency where he 
was a P & G a'ceount exec. 



BRITISH PUNDITS ON 
CHI ROUND TABLE 

Chicago, July 11. 
.University of Chicago Round 
Table program will deviate from its 
usual procedure for the July 16 
broadcast when moss of the half 
hour! will be heard from London, 
where members of the "Freedom 
Forum" the round, table's English 
counterpart, will discuss the British 
viewpoint tin "post-war . economics. 

For several weeks panel members 
ot the University of Chicago Round 
Table have been discussing obstacles 
to economic stumbling blocks with 
England in the post-war era. Lon- 
don pickup on July 16 will mark the 
culmination of the 'scries with the 
British angle given by Sir Frederick 
Whyte, Prof. Harold Laskt, Henry 
Brooke and Geoffrey Crowther. Ar- 
rangements for the London broad- 
cast were made through William 
NewtoK local manager for BBC. 



Sinclair Oil's New Type 
Quizzer Debuts in Chi 

. Chicago, July 11. 

New type of audience participa- 
tiori*"show will hit the air Saturday 
(15) > when the Sinclair" Quiz Club 
makes its debut over WBBM at. 
9:45-10:15 p.m. (CWT.). Contract 
for 52 weeks was signed here last 
week when L. B, Dorn, represent- 
ing the HixoUr McDonald Agency, 
N Y„ and Gordon Owen, of Spot 
Sales, N. Y , came on to close the 
deal. Sinclair Refining Co. is the 
sponsor.; . ■'- 
J- Weekly- shows will, be held in 
WBBM's main studio with 'partici- 
pants selected by numbered admis- 
sion tickets. Guy Wallace will be 
quizmaster, backed by an orchestra 
led by Jimmy Hill'tard. ShoW will 
be written by George Marks,-, 



Craven to Manage WOL 
For Cowles; Swap Deal 
For WMT Goes to FCC 

Washington, July 11. 
Dear for a swap of WMT, Cedar 
I 'Rapids, with WOL, Washington, is 
closed and ah application for the - 
transfer filed with the FCC. 

Gardner Cowles, Jr., Des Moines 
publisher and president of the Iowa 
Broadcasting Corp., which owns 
WMT, will make T. A. M. Craven,, 
former FCC commissioner Who re- 
cently joined the Cowles organiza- 
tion, general manager of WOL, if the 
radio commission okays the deal,; 
.. Under any condition. Craven will 
make his headquarters in Washing- 
ton, to handle Cowles radio interests 
and keep an eye on two stations re- 
cently acquired by the. Cowles fam- 
ily in Boston and Jersey City. With 
WOL, the Cowles family, whose in- 
terests have heretofore been in the 
west, would have a three station 
chain along the Atlantic seaboard, 
indicating the beginning of a new 
Cowles empire in this part of the 
Country. Whether they propose to 
go into Philadelphia later on is not 
yet di.-closed. 



Euhahks will take 

o.\*er; for her on NBC's "Young Widder Brown" and CBS's "Second- Hus-- ' 
BaH*";. : Ann Leaf s new baby boy has been 'c'lristened Peter Leaf 
Kleincft. . ;'■■'.'■ ' ':': •''.;?•. v •:■:' ■■'':-..'.: '■ -.'. '',.-•,' --' : "', ; ,;.. • ;- '/-..''' ''. \ 

Leon Barzin. conductor of the WQXR orchestra, back from- months va- ;'• 
cation in Ma.ine. : . . Jo Ranson, who heads up WNEW's Hackery, eulturizing 
the trade, press boys with a flock of whodunit reprints as a, tiein With the 
station's Crime .Quiz show. , , .Marty Goodman, of the ..William Morris 
office, has been looking around for a bodyguard ever since he was gifted 
with: that gold wrist watch by Milton Berle in appreciation for his work 
in hypoing the Berle-Eversharp stanza.. '.'•-•'.'.; v _^ / ;-\;- ; ..'-.; "-• 

Marge Kerr, production head of Tom Fizdale publicity office for past 
seven' years, resigned Monday (10) to devote more time to scripting of 
radio shows. . . . Young Si Rubicam tossing a get-acquainted press parly 
tonight (12) at Toots Shor's for Alan Young, the summer replacement on 
the Eddie Cantor "Time to Smile" NBC show. ... Day Tuitle. who's been doing 
the production chore on the "Molle Mystery Theatre." is shifting to the same 
job on the Lever Bros,' "Bright Horizons" airer, replacing Ralph Butler, 
who'll only produce the "Joyce Jordan" show' henceforth; Frank Telford 
takes over the "Mystery Theatre" spot. Joe Hill replaces him On the "We, 
the People" program.. ..Edward B. Lyman joins the . Foote, .Cone, and 
Belding agency in an executive capacity this week. .. .Marcolla Cisncy. 
formerly exec director of the .Jacksonville, Fla., Little Theatre, joined the; 
production staff at WMC A this week Patsy Garrett. "Broadway Mat- 
inee'' vocalist, announced her engagement to Marine. Sgt. Frank, Hower 
last week. He, was pianist and arranger with Fred Wariiig's orch.._. 
Frank Smith, P&G account exec at Benton & Bowles, was elected. a veepce 
at that agency this week, . . .Eugene Katz this week resumed his post as 
secretary of the Katz agency after two years wiTn the OW1. 

Herman Steinbruck. of "Variety" radio sales dept., laid up at Good 
Samaritan hosp, Suffern, with four broken ribs, suffered in a fall from a 
ladder.;' '•'.'-. :: : 7: ;";.■''-'•.; .■;''■' : -' •'-" •■■'.'•■'.•'. 

Il\ CHICAGO . . . 

WGN celebrates its 20th , artniycrsar jMoti- the air during the mohth-of- 
Jtdy.. Buddy Clark and Bob^ Eberle were featured stars on the Army 



Bill Miller's Commuting Show 

Akron,. July 11. 
William Miller has been signed for 
a 13-week series of broadcasts over 
both WADC and WAKR, Akron, 
from 10:30 to 10:45 p. m. Series teed 
off July 3. Miller, native of Akron, 
will commute between Chicago and 
Mtron for the perio'' "H* t.nching 
'nislc. in Chicago. 



Jessel's Guestar Series 
For 20th's 'Wilson' Buildup 

George Jessel, due in N. Y. Friday 
(14) from the Coast, will be spotted 
as guest star - on seven radio shows 
within span, of two weeks in connec- 
tion- with buildup on 20th-Fox's 
"Wilson, ■" opening August 1 at the. 
Roxy. 

Airers, lined .tip for Jessel. now a 
20th producer, include shots on the 
Milton Berle show 118) and with 
Guy Lombardo (22). Johnny Morgan 
(24). Hildegnrde :<25), Barry Wood 
(291. Basin Street (30), and Louis 
Sobol.. (31 Im- 
possible also ' that Jessel will be 
teamed, with Dunninger and- also 
appear on the Stage Door Canteen 

show. . .. '•:»;:'' 



NELSON EDDY SHOW 
FOR UTILITY COMBINE 



Service Forces Show "21 Stars" July 8. They're now Privates Buddy Clark 
and Bob Eberle. ,. .Beginning last week admission tickets were required 
ior daily broadcasts of Blue Breakfast Club. Decision to inaugurate new 
policy was made by Ed Borroff, Blue v.p. of Central Division after a full 
Week of turning' away hundreds of people who wanted to see show. 

WBBM's news booth in front of Wrigley building has blossomed put 
with full color reproductions of Army, Navy. Marine and Coast Guard 
campaign insignia. Idea is to educate the' public on what the various army 
forces campaign bars stand for. . . .Five ministers who were awarded schol- 
arships by^NBC are attending the NBC Northwestern Uni. Summer Insti- 
tute; Included is Frank Elliott of the Chicago Theological Seminary, who 
:s also a winner of a $1,000 seminary fellowship, which will enable' hira 
to spend a year's, research in radio*.. Alex Dicier, veteran news re- 
porter, began a new WGN newscast July 8. Program is broadcast every 
Saturday morning, 10:15 to 10:30. Program is sponsored by John Morrell 
& Co., replacing Bob Becker's Pet Parade, . . 

Included among new personnel, added by Blue Network Central Division 
last Week, are Clifford Peterson, production department: Charles Halteman, 
announcing, and James Downs, engineering. Halteman. prior to joining 
die Blue service, was program director of WTOL. Toledo. Peterson was for- 
merly a member of the "Escorts & Betty" singing group. .. Gene Baker, 
NBC "Road of Life" announcer, vacationing. , . .Elmo Tanner, former soloist 
with Ted Weems' orchestra, will be guest star "Starring Curt Masscy" 

July is, ■■'::■';;'..■ - v ' '.; : ,/:. 

Henry Stanton, v.p. charge of the Chicago office, % Walter Thompson, 
left for Coast last Friday for Danny Danker funeral. . . ."Voice of the 
Dairy Farmer." aired over NBC, celebrates first anniversary July 18,... 
David Whitehouse, who plays the part of "Rush" .in "Vic & Sade," will 
start on "Author's Playhouse" July 14. . . .Will C. Grant, head of Grant 
agency, off for tour of South and Central America. 

IN. HOLLYWOOD . , . 

A pall of gloom fell over the town when word got around of Danny 
banker's • sudden- passing. Those who chatted with him' at the Brown 
Derby nine or 10 hours before the pump quit ori him last Wednesday night 
were amazed at how well he looked, bronzed from his six-week outdoor 
rest and stripped of excess weight. His death came as a stunning blow 



\ Hollywood, July 11. 
Contracts are being inked by Elec- 
trical Industries to sponsor half-hour 
musical airer starring Nelson Eddy 

with Robert Armbruster conducting and lus loss to the Thompson agency will be keenly fc.i 



a large orch and chorus rounding put 
session's lineup. Sponsor has .been 
backing "Report to the Nation 



though orch will be. limited in the 
beginning, expanding to 50 pieces 
after the first of the year. Stanza is 
heard, in the Wednesday night, 10:30- 
11 p. m, spot. Show will be heard 
over 132 _stations with N. W. Aycv 
the agency.- 

Drake Quits Cowles Chain 
For WLS Promotion Job 

! Des Moines, July 11. 

-John Drake, KRNT and KSO sales 
promotion manager, has resigned 
from the Des Moines Cowles stations, 
effective July 15, to join the promo- 
tion staff of WLS, Chicago. . . ■ ' 

'No successor has been named for 
the' Des Moines post. V 



Dick Gibson checks in this week at- New York office, of Ruthrauff & 
Ryan to join new biz department; He had been talent buyer in the Holly- 
wood office; .J. Walter Thompson's, press thief. "Wick" Crider, grabbed 
which continues on the air as CBS I a fast reservation and hustled back home after looking oyer the setup 
sustainer after utility combine drops I here.. He okayed an expansion Of the staff here and Grace Wilcox, lor-- 
if, .-':, mer fan mag editor, moved in as feature writer to supplant Franc Dillon, 

Eddy will be; backed by chorus of 'Switched, to industrial accounts. .. .F. Bourne Ruthrauff, executive assistant 
30 . voices ; from initial broadcast director of public info for the Red Cross, iri town to set up the new air 

series jointly aegised by Army, Navy and Red Cross. :Young & Rubicam 
ordered a record cut of Walter White's "Nobody's Children." which had a 
four-year run on the Mutual time. White recently joined CBS production 
staff ... .Carlton Alsop up. and around after pneumonia siege and off to 
New York with the frau, Martha Scott. . . .Kriox Co; (Cystex.) bought Dud 
Williamson's "Wnat's the Name of That 1 Song?'' tor the- full Mutual net- 
work after eight-week breakin on Don Lee. Musical quizzer- is now being 
carried "on the house" after a spell of commercialism . . . ,P & G's "Glamor 
Manor" without a local outlet until July 24 when KECA obligingly moves 
one of its department store accounts. . . .Clyde Scott. KFI-KECA commcr- 
cial manager, reported set as KECA manager when the FCC approves 
Bl life network buy of the' station. . . .Lockheed moves its Herbert Marshall 
starrer. "Man Named Xj" to the Blue after eight-week summer stand in 
the Lux slot on CBS...-. .Harry Mitchell moved in at KFAC as program 
director . . . .Editors of downtown sheets, who scorn radio as a blight, 
ganged up on "Citizens" Forum at KNX to have their say-so about freedom 
of the press. .', .Standard Brands' strip from the east on KNX, "This Chang- 
ing World,'' runs smack dab into a news analysis program of the same 
, title on KHJ. Question now is, "who got there fust?", and a determina-- 
lidn of priority may be invoked to ease the conflict. -"■ ;. . : , ;■'•' 



Wednesday, July 12, 1944 



RADIO 



27 



Hit Paraders To 
Far East By OWI 

Washington, July 11. 

Popular American music, which 
was beginning to catch on through 
the Far East before Pearl Harbor, is 
still being heard there despite stren- 
uous efforts of the Nips to wipe it 
out together with other features of 
Western culture. 

'Day in and day out around the 
clock, OWI DX stations in Frisco 
beam programs to China, Japan, the 
Philippines, Burma, Malay, etc., 
about 10% of .which is music. 



Butler Not Interested 
In Sale of WI£, He Tells 
Noble, Woods in Chi Meet 

• •._''. Chicago, July 11. 

Series of meetings held here last 
week between Edward Noble, owner 
of the Blue Network, Mark Woods, 
pre.xy, and Burrldge Butler, owner 
.or WLS, ended with a definite .state- 
ment by Butler that WLS was not 
for sale and will not be for sale at 
any time in the future. At the same 
time negotiations were launched for 
a renewal of the Blue-WLS network 
contract which expires Oct. 1. 

Curious angle in the deal is that 
if anything goes haywire in the re- 
newal deal WENR will be without 
a transmitter after the Oct. 1 date 
Gimmick is that WLS which origin- 
ally built the transmitter used 
jointly by WLS and WENR, served 
notice on WENR that their transmit- 
ter .would no longer be available for 
use by WENR Eftier the October 
deadline. '..'V'-.. - ■ . 

Main stumbling block in the sale 
of WLS has always been Butler's de- 
termination that the station, long re- 
garded as the authoritative voice of 
the farmer in the midwest, should 
remain in that field and his fear that 
in a takeover by the Blue the farm 
identity would be lost. 

Noble and Woods w hile here had 
conierences wim MarshalTTieldTe^ 



Court Rules in Favor 
Of Irna Phillips In 
'Guiding Light' Suit 

Chicago, July 11. 

Irna Phillips is the full owner of 
"The Guiding Light," radio serial, in 
a ruling made last week by Circuit 
Judge Harry Fisher when "he re- 
versed the decision of John Mulder, 
master-in-chancery, and held that 
Emmons C. Carlson was not entitled 
to an interest in the radio show. 
Counsel for Carlson wjll carry ' the 
case to the Appelate Court of Il- 
linois.-. '•■'•'., 'VV-v'. "'• 

Emmons^ NBC district advertising 
and promotion manager, filed suit 
against Miss Phillips in August, i941, 
claiming that "Guiding Light" was 
the result of their collaboration; that 
there was a verbal agreement be 
tweeh. them for a 50-50 partnership 
and that he was entitled to half the 
profits and a bill of. accounting, on 
past earnings of the serial. ' 



ST. LOUIS GETS OKAY 
ON AIR EDUC. PROJECT 

St. Louis, July 11. 

A proposition that the St. Louis 
Board of Education employ the fa- 
cilities of radio KFUO (Concordia 
Seminary) to broadcast courses of 
instructions and educational pro- 
grams direct to local public schools 
has been given the green light by the 
board's Instruction Committee. - V 

In carrying out Its .end of the deal, 
execs of KFUO have applied to FCC 
for permission to operate a fre- 
quency modulation station for edu- 
cational purposes, that they had suf- 
ficient equipment on hand to con- 
struct such a transmitter, and that 
the schools .could use it on a cuffo 
basis for the ti ie being. 1 



NAB Chi Convention Agenda Set Up; 
Delegates Will Get By-Law Changes 



Washington, July 11. 

A two-day joint meeting of the 
NAB sub-coriimittees on bylaw re- 
visions and the 1944 convention pro- 
gram concluded here today Oil) with 
the adoption of a tentative conven- 
tion schedule, and the suggestion of 
three bylaw changes to be presented 
at the Chicago sessions in August. 

Those who met with prexy J. 
Harold Ryan and C. E. Arney, Jr., 
secretary, included: Kolin Hager, 
WGY, Schenectady; Paul W. '.: Mo- 
rency, WTIC, Hartford; Frank King, 



WMBR, Jacksonville; Roy F. Thomp- 
son, WFBG, Altoona, and John E. 
Fetzer, WKGO, Kalamazoo. 

The three by-law changes are: 1, 
A change in the method of electing " 
delegates-at-large, from the present 
floor nominations method to ballotr 
box nominations, in an effort to in- 
ject new faces into elections; 2, pro- 
visions for a mail election of dele- 
gates-at-large in case the national 
emergency should cause cancellation 
of the convention, and 3, a change 
in the method of paying dues. * 



Stooges Top 
Summer Coin 



The stooge has come into his own 
on network shows this summer, with 
the demand apparently greater than 
the supply. Preponderance of com- 
edy programs on the July-to-Septem- 
ber replacement skeds have proven 
a bonanza for the foil guys who, by 
moving into the driver's seat, are 
asking— and getting— top stooge coin. 

Such recent entries as the Harry 
Savoy-Camel Thursday night show, 
the Alan Young - Bristol - Myers 
Wednesday night program, the Eddie 
Garr CBS sustainer, and the Char 
lotte Greenwood Tuesday night show 
are but a few of the comedy stanzas 
built around the stooge format and 
giving the latter a new independence. 



{•aiding a Blue affiliate arrangement 
lor WJJD, newly-acquired by Field. 



'Mad Russian' Pacted To 
3-Yr. Cantor Show Deal 

Hollywood, July 11. 
' Eddie Cantor will again have Bert 
Gordon, "Mad Russian," on his air 
show next season. Gordon was 
knotted to three-year pact with Can- 
tor to handle all his other business, 
pix. etc." 

Also signed by Cantor is Leonard 
Suess as musical director, replacing 
"Cookie" Fairchild, and Bee Walters, 
pianist from New York, for start of 
his radio show in fall. •'•; 



KYW'S RADIO WORKSHOP 
FOR PHILLY TEACHERS 



Philadelphia, July 11. 

KYW is conducting a radio work- 
shop for Philly school teachers and 
principals this summer. 

Idea is to acquaint thelpedagogues 
with the principles, ideas and trends 
in radio to pass on to their students 
next fall. 

Speakers at the .'weekly sessions 
will include Walter Evans, vice pres- 
ident ' of. ; Westinghouse Radio Sta 
tions, Inc.; Dorothy Lewis, coordin 
ator of listener activity of the Na 
tional Assn. of Broadcasters; Ernest 
Gager. KYW chief engineer; Ela 
nore Ulmer and James W. Gantz. 
promotion and publicity heads of 
KYW, respectively.- 




Morin Quits As CBC Board 
Head, Chase Assumes Post 

Montreal. July 11. 

Rene Morin has resigned as chair- 
man of the board of governors of the 
Canadian Broadcasting' Corp. and 
Howard. B. Chase of Montreal has 
been appointed his successor. 

The resignation and appointment 
were announced last week -17) by 
War Services Minister LaFleche in 
the House of Commons. Morin has 
been, chairman on part time since 
1942 and will remain on board of 
governors. .... v 

Chase is president of the Canadian 
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi- 
neers with headquarters in Mon- 
treal:^ "- ■>'•■:/''•.•'-, 



Helbros Watch Subbing 
Quiz Show for Pick & Pat I 

New quiz session tabbed "Quick As 
a Flash." will replace Pick & Pat on 
the Helbros Watch stanza Sunday 
(9). Pick & Pat have been heard 
Tuesday nightsAut with new show, 
time switches to the Sunday evening 
6-6:30 p.m. slot. 

Quizzer, brainchild of Bernard 
Prukter and Dick Lewis,, will be 
heard on 30 stations during remain- 
der of -summer. On Sept. 10 it ex- 
pands to- 116 stations. WeirUraub is 
the agency. 

WGN's 20th Ann! 
■ Chicago.— WGN celebrates its 20th 

anniversary this week; rounding but 
two decades of .'broadcasting with an; 
eight-day. cclebi-ation starting Satur- 
day < 15 >, part of which; will include 
art exhibit . of radio equipment and)! 
historic photographs covering the' 
20-year span. . ' 



VINCENT TRAVERS 



EDDIE CANTOR 



June 21, 1944 



Mr. Vincent Travers, 
149 West 51st St., 
New York City. 



Dear Vincent: 

I cannot leave town without 
expressing to you my gratitude for the 
fine musical job you did on our radio 
show these last eight broadcasts. You 
are not only a fine musician, but a great 
joy to work with - a rare combination in 
this cockeyed business of ours; 

' j.-v;: 1 -. Good luck, and hope to see 
you when I return in the Fall. Kindest 
regards from the gang and 




Sincerely* 

-*-tJ <2. 

Eddie Cantor 



EC:mh 



Waldorf Astoria 
New York City. 



THIRD YEAR WITH 
BILLY ROSE'S 
DIAMOND HORSESHOE 



EXCLUSIVE MANAGEMENT 

MUSIC CORPORATION OF AMERICA 

LONDON NEW YORK CHICAGO SAN FRANCISCO BEVERLY HILLS CLEVELAND DALLAS 



241 



RADIO REVIEWS 



Wednesday, July 12, 19 it 



"\ MAX NAMED X" 
With Herbert Marshall. I.urene 
Tiittle. Ham. Conried, Cy Kendall 
Mystery ■ 

r inducer: William X. Robson 
Writer: Stephen Lousstreet 
SO Mills.. Mon.; 9:;S0 ».«•• 
LOCKHEED 
WABC-CBS, New York 

iFoote. Cow & BelfJiiia 1 
New Lockheed show,; Successor '"to 
its -"America— Ceiling'* Unlimited.'' 
which recently, bowed ..off. occupies 
the last half-hour of >the time va- 
r>^ti>a fry -Lair Radio Theatre on CBS. 
Wiien latter show returns in Septem- 
ber. "A Man Named X'- moves over 
to the Blue network.. As it shaded 
■up on Monday's (10 1 initial mystery 
dramatization, there's .little; likeli- 
hood of the. Lux program losing ;'H» 
follower*, 

•X." starring Herbert Marshall as 
an American Intelligence .operative, 
lacked, for one thing, the first requi- 
site -of a thrilleiv-rsuspense. Story, 
adapted from a- Stephen Longstree! 
novel tLdngsti'eet is scripting 'the 
series), was unravelled in a series of 
short flashes, mainly telephone con- 
versations, connected by a lew bars 
of standard dramatic thriller music. 
The intrigue was never -sufficiently 
involved to sustain interest, and the 
dialog; particularly the lines assigned 
to Marshall., were tired, interspersed 
with obvious attempts at li'tra-suave 
sophistication, 

. Basically, the fault wasn't Mar- 
shall's, for the Vet . film actor turned 
in -.his " usual smooth performance. 
Rather! the "blame lay with the pool- 
adaptation and the script's shoricoin- 
ings were by no means, overcome by 

, the production. -.-;.,. - ■'! 

Commercials were grooved, per 
usual, along Lockheed institutional 
lines, pointing tip the job the, com- 
pany's men and women' are doing, 
.-■;'■-.•> ■•-■:.■■:• -;■'■ Rose. 



"X1T WIT COURT" 
With Ransome Sherman, Arthur 
Q. Bryan, Mel Blaine, Sarah Ber- 
ner, Jimmy Dodd, Jack Ruse orchv 
Director: Dave Elton 
Writers: Harmon Alexander, ' Phil 
Cole, Ben Perry. David Kohnhorst, 
Ralph de Salvatore, Poot Pray 
25 Mins.. Tues., *:S0 p.m. v 
BRISTOL-MYERS 
WJ/.-Btue, New- York 

(You no & R ii dim in) 
■ ''Nit: Wit Court.'' starring Ransome 
Sherman as the judge presiding over 
a screwball triumvirate called a jury. 
' fera ' s u bstantial t mrnroci' ' hiatus > urib - . 
stitute lor "Duffy's." Not. as all-ap- 
ne.iluig comically, as Us predecessor, 
but nevertheless having move than 
a -few originally concocted gag situa- 



sions. and also accompanied Jimmy 
Dodd. scat singer ala Johnny ''Scat" 
Davis, i i) the lone song latter de- 
livered, "'Sing For My Supper" in 
topflight fashion. 

Commercials were brief, sensible 
and in the usual good taste of Y&R 
showmanship. Stanza is strong 
enough to hold its own on one of the 
most highly-competilive evenings of 
the week. . Stcii: 



"COLLEGE OF MUSICAL 

KNOWLEDGE" "■'.' 
With Phi l Harris, Sull y Mason, Mer- 
wyn Bogne, Diane " TenfjileToir, 
Georgia Carroll, Don Leslie. .King 
Sisters •. ' ; 
Writers: Carl. Her/.iiigei', Paul Phil- 
■ lips -■;':.;, y '■ "!'''•''.' 
Director-Producer, Tau'l Phillipit . 
BO Min«„ Wed.. 10-11 p.m. 
LUCKY STRIKE ■■*- ■- .'. 

yVF.AI-NBC, New York 

(fools. Cone & Bclcliny) -.! 
Phil Harris' longtime aihbit ion to 

fof- 

^l^^t^ oi.the 



tions that score 

Format of the stanza is simple, but 
catchy. Bailiff re'ads 'a problem 
which the jury trio is . requested to 
comment' upon. Problems are tricky 
a lid -t'uivnv and the responses by , the 



iiihcrgnl. Arthur Q. Bryan, as Wil 
low who solves the quiz/.ers with, a 
lisp: Mcl Blanc, as Homblower. the 
blubbering, motoi - boatisii voiced' 
character: and Sarah Berner: as 
Bubbles Lowbridge. tbeH-!o! : -so. 1 sirinf.t 
.woman hiember of the trio, who 
talks too much. are. excellent., each 
m his 01; her own sphere 

There are six wnteis assigned to 
this , stanza. . Between ; them they 
turned out a fairly. auspicious tee-oft' 
script. Besides three puzzlers; of-' I 
fefe'd, including a dramatization bt 
one. because of .-its complicated as- | 
peets. a male member of the studio | 
audience was brought to the mike by 
Sherman for ;repartee anenf his idea 
of how Charles Boyer sounds to him: 
Musical group, led by Jack Rose, 
bridged the gaps between gab ses- 



loiig i'el 

comcdic end as he is in waving the :j 
baton I at least sa w. partial . fruition i 
last v^eek (fx. He has stepped into I 
Kay Kysei s spot on -the NBC ''Col- ' 
lege- of - Musical Knowledge" while 
Kyser goes overseas for eight weeks'! 
to .entertain GI 



The Minority Groups 

Criticism has been mounting in recent weeks over the unfavorable 
treatment accorded minority groups in the scripting of radio shows. It's 
pointed out that while radio continues to do a hangup job so far as point- 
ing the finger at the menace of fascism, the fact remains that "right in its 
own back yard" it has been condoning a condition that fosters intolerance 
and prejudice. ■' ■ , '.''■ ■;-.■.-• ;-'■'•' '..•''•'<'-.'. 

The tendency toward an overemphasis of the Yiddish idiom iff comedy , 
programs: the unfavorable light in which the Negro has been cast both 
through the medium of caricature and in the failure to depict. him as 
'•just another American guy out to win the war" are cited as illustrations 
of bad taste that have been creepiiig into air stanzas with regularity 
-through— foi GG-rOf^-habit.— - ' . ■ *. ■ ,' 

As a result of the criticism, there's been evidenced recently a growing 
consciousness by radio seripters to assert a more healthy influence over 
-the programs in remedying the situation. Single case in point was the 
script job treatment .-.for Milton Berle's "Let Yourself Go" last Tuesdav 
(41 in which the corriediau salvoed an ex-Harlem salesman killed, in the 
line of duly as a seaman. At , no; point did the sensitivity angle creep 
in: only by inference was there a suggestion that he tuns a Negro or any- 
thing but a . guy wholeheartedly sacrificing his life to lick the Axis! 
Similar evidence of dignified treatment has made itself manifest in the 
past couple of week's, with a number of radio writers pledging themselves 
to erase the stigma. 

At a time when there',, an ever-awakening consciousness of discrimina- 
tion projecting itself not only, in radio but in all media, of expression., 
such an awareness adds one more feather to the industry's cap. . Rose. 



"JUST BETWEEN YOU 

COWL" .■-.'■■...•■•■ 
15 Mins., Monday to Friday; 1:15 p.m 
Sustaining' 



AND JANE several nighttime' network stanzas. 

tie also did some special-events and 



Aside I'r.oin Harris al the holm.' the 



I WOR-Mntiial, N. Y. 



In Kansas City 



news stanzas in good fashion, but 
not loo. outstanding. ■'- ':■■[ ■. ;.;,' 
■v ■'['.'• Then came the;, war. Being a vet- 
lyyoiil stays the same, including Kv- i For. the past, .two seasons 'Jane i craiv in radio. Hicks was sent over- lo 
seVs band arid soloists, and the pro- I Cowl has been' devoting much of her | London by the Blue to, head its news 
gram's policy geared for GI oilier- I Ume to the Stage Poor 1 Canteen and I bureau there, and to oversee combat 
iainmcnl. . Harris didn't lel.his fans Tshe was introduced as being of the i coverage for the North African , and 
ciowr,. . The program! does::'! suil'or l governing board. , • .- | European Theatre of Operations. Oh 

in. switching from, the Rysei; to the 'j" Her . program, .forhiula is :.td chat !,U-Day he struck, oil 
Harris technique. . 

It Harris doesn't exactly 

stage star. For the startei' Monday j was attacked by eneiny planes. His 
(10) she had three topics, -"first of description, of, the attack, and, the 




show up 

topflight comedian..- the fault 
isn't his alone, for he's brought with 
him those same qualities that's -made 
him an integral, part ol . the Benny 
package. Rather, it's basically . the 
general pattern of. the hour-long quiz 
show bent on: catering to Ql's on 
the! hoihe base, where a laugh's a 
laugh without too much emphasis 
oh discriminatory scripting. . On the 
musical end. Of course. Harris con* 



infbrmany, on events of the day. with Hicks was on alanding barge head- 
occasional personal experiences as a ring", lor the Normandy shore, which 



which ; was comment on the Nazi 
robot bomb being dropped on Lon- 
don. ' It- may; seem like something 
gut. of Jiile Verne, ventured Mi.xs 
Cowl, but how about the people who 
are experiencing; the 
contraption? Yet "Mr 
claies there will be no retreat from 
London" and "not even the piloiless 



dramatic backgrourvd of sailors' voices ' 
in the heat of battle, combined to 
make one of the best airings to 'come 
out of the war. Overnight, practic- 
ally.. Hicks'! name has become: i m- 
lafest Hitler i portant in the scheme of Things' in 
Churchill de- | .Continued oh page 30) • 



tinues to dish out his own brand of. bomb can destroy the fighting heart 
satisfying tunes. . of the British people." said the ac 

Lending an assist are. per usual. | tre. 



Sully Mason. Merwyn Bogue, Diane 
Templelon, Georgia Carroll and Don 
Leslie on the vocals, with the King 
Sisters as added assets on the initial 
Harris program. Rose. 




ng 

is to WHB 

SKYROCKET to SALES SUCCESS on WHB's program pop- 
ularity! 'Phone us for availabilities if you're considering 
spot programs or announcements in this booming market. 
"Ypur Mutual friend" is Kansas City's Dominant Daytime 
Station... delivering the "most listeners per dollar" through- 
out the western half of Missouri and the eastern third 
of Kansas. For availabilities, call 

DON DAVIS ,,• ;',' 

KANSAS CITY — Scorritl Building — HArrisbri 1161 
! NEW YORK CITY-507 Fifth Avtnu«-VAnderbilt 6-2550 
CHICAGO — 333 North Michigan Blvd.— CENtrol 7980 
HOUYWOOD-5855 Hollywood Blvd.-HOIIy wood 621 1 , 

KEY STATION for the KANSAS STATE NETWORK 

Kansas City .• ! Wichita •. Salina • Great-Bend •" Emporia 
Missouri Kansas Kansas Kansas Kansas 



"FANNIE HI RST PRESENTS" / 
With Fannie Hurst 
Drama 

Writer: Doris Halman 
Producer-Director: Eric Pinker 
Sat., 10 a.m., 30 Mins. 
BORDEN'S MILK 
WJZ-Bluc. New York 

(Young & /Rtibit'fl m ) 
Fannie Hurst's all-consuming pas- 
sion for the teeming.-earthy elemenls 
apparently remains undiminished. 
Miss Hurst is again selling, only this 
time by radio, that type of fiction 
which has become the shopgirls' by- 
word. Only this time add the word 
' housewife."; Miss Hurst is boosting 
chocolate milk to the housewives.' 
And, presumably, selling; 

Borden's is the sponsor,, and the 
milk is rich and creamy, full of vita- 
mins: That's what the commercial 
implies, and maybe it's right. At any 
rate. Miss Hurst's story is likely to 
be so much skimmed milk for the 
sophisticates. But do sophisticates 
listen to the radio at 10 a.m.? 

Titled "Fannie Hurst Presents." 
this program introduces the novelist 
as an impressive, narrator of stories 
she has written and had dramatized 
for radio. The first, story on initial 
program was one about a country 
boy trapped into marriage. Actual- 
ly, he had wanted, oh. so much: to go. 
to sea. (Gad. how he had wanted to 
see Madagascar! I And so. years 
later, when his son by the enslaving 
wife -was', balked from going to sea. 
he schemed so that the boy could get. 
■his wish and frustrate the selfish 
mother. .''•■ Knliii. 



Now that the presidential' .cam- 
paign is on. Miss Cowl mentioned 
her visits to the White House and 
especially a luncheon wilh the late 
President Coolidge there. Her curi- 
osity was aroused over one thing— - 
did the president's arm grow weary 
from shaking so many hands? For 
the final part of her starting show 
-Miss Cowl talked of our boys at .the. 
front and the experience of one 
doughboy under fire. Housewives 
should, like her. Ibee. 



1 



ST 



GEORGE HICKS 

15 Mins., Tues. and Thins., 10:15 p:m. 
Sustaining ".'' ' 
W.I7.-Blue. New York 

George Hicks.is an easy-going fel- 
low who for . years broadcast des- 
criptions of sporting events over, the 
Blue network, especially golf, and 
handled the commercial chores on 



In The Billboard's recent 
poll to determine local sta- 
,".'■' lions whose public rela- 
tions have been outstanding. 
WT AG ranked first in Central New 
England. Public relations as a branch 
of public service ha* helped to main- 
tarn WTAG's top rating in Listening 
Station Indexes. When you buy time, 
buy an audience from the INSIDE. 



WT AG 

WORCESTER 



■-:-;.:. 



j /fay AcMtffS 



4£ ' 



MONTHS, MARCH-APHIt/ 1944— KANSAS CITY 

HOOPER STATION LISTENING INDEX 

TOTAl COMCIOlNrAl. CAllS ~ THIJ PERIOD 14 P S8B 



INDEX 
8-12 A.*. 



AFTERNOON 
INOEX 

momoav 

THMl OH. 



SliHiif* 

llill 

6A 



Sratior 

93 



Station 1 

"mm 



mm 



C i 
17.5 



Shrtion 

17.0 



Slaiipn 

29.7 



WHB 
33.1 



WHB 
27.0 



4.7 



St»»ion 

5.5 

" ''4ii3t 



j "BOSTON BI.ACK1E" 
With Chester Morris, Richard I.ane, 
Harlow Wilcox,' announcer, others 
Writer: Ken Lyons ' 

I Director: Hon Clark 
Producer: Fred W. Ziv 1 
Fridays, 10-10:li0 p. m. (EWT) 
R1NSO V-. ••'••■ " 

NBC-WEAF, New Yolk 

" iffi'.'/i/iiiii) <£- Rvaii) 
. This. Fred! Ziv package is' halt-hour 
tnelodrama sfahxa patterned after 
filni scries; starring Chester Morris 
in name role character from the film 
versions.. and a welcome addition for 
listeners who go for this, brand of* 
inclos and whodunits. 

Stanza heard Friday night ("V car- 
ried on friendly feud between Farra- 
day and Blackie.- Safe has been 
ciac'kert and— fund* Of recent' benefit 
for servicemen's; canleeii have! been 
stolen.' When police arrive they find 
Shorty-, pill of Blackie.' out cold, and 
naturally suspect that Blackie was 
the. 'robber. Latter is .apprehended 
and; asks time , to unravel mystery 
about theft and clear himself. He 

j filially. pins it "oh social register aunt 
of. gal in charge of benefit, who hi- 

| jacked 20Gs to pay off. a blackmailer. 
Fan'aday is disappointed and non- 
plussed,, and Blackie is free -to cavort 
in next week's stanza, 

Chester Morris gives, a good, ac- 
count as Blackie. Richard Lane gives 
good support as Farraday. Otiiers are 
equally good in respective roles. .... 
. Harlow Wilcox prefaces and shift 
ta.ils stanza .extolling'-. virtues of the 
sponsor's' product., ,:..'". f- Eddo. 




A BIGGIR W01lH« . | 



BASIC STATION . . . COLUMBIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM 
G- A. Richards, Pret., John P. Pott, Vice Pre*. & Gen. Mgr. 
Edward Petry & Co., Notional Representative 



Wednesday, July 12, 1944 



PfiRIETY 29 




He talks to 



of his audience at a time ! 



This is Arthur Godfrey. You can hear him 
over WABC. Look well and long upon him. 
Godfrey is unique. r 

This man does best what all radio person- 
alities attempt to do well. He speaks to his 
early -morning listeners as though he were 
beside them in their homes, across the table 
f rom them as they breakfast. 

Like a friend who's dropped in for a chat— 
a close friend who talks only and directly to 
each individual listener. 

Call it a knack or a gift, or genius— what- 
ever it is, it is the quality that set* Arthur 
Godfrey apart from all other broadcasters, 



builds his listening audience to mammoth 
early-morning size. 

If you're interested in '-reaching Godfrey's 
579,125* friends with your message, «call us 
or Radio Sales. We'll give you a case-full of 
facts. You can draw your own conclusions. 

* According to the latest CBS Listener Diary study 4 December 
1943). Probably more now.: 



He presented by 
Radio' Sal «», the 
SPOT Broadeatting 
Division of CBS 



WAB 

Columbia's Key Station 
NEW YORK • 50,000 Watts 
COLUMBIA OWNED 




'■■jjp 



30 RADIO 



PRriety 



Wednesday, July 12, 1941 



Radio Reviews 



Continued from page 28 



relation to the Blue and its war cov- 
erage. ; - ; ' 

So starting last Tuesday U ). he . 
began a regular twice-weekly , series 
of Jo-minute programs of his own 
shortwayed from London, and broad- 
cast for network listeners at 10:15 
on Tuesday ; and . Thursday nights. 
The stanzas, theoretically, will give 
the inside of what is being accom- 
plished by Allied armies marching 
toward the conquest of the Nazis, 
and how' these things: are being ac- 
complished. '. 

On program caught (6), Hicks had 
as his; guest Maj, Gen. H. B. Taylor, 
head of the ordnance department of 
the .U, .S. Army in the ETO. Taylor, 
in a q. & a. session with Hicks, told 
of: the problems facing the ordnance 
corps in supplying equipment; etc., 
for so vast an operation^ . He. re- 
vealed that several new weapons, 
never before used, will go into ac- 
tion shortly against the Germans, 
adding, that material replacements 
are- being flown into Europe, among 
other means of getting the stuff 
there, . -V. .'. ■ :'•"•, . 

The stanza was interesting, neatly 




M-K-M i "Bum lor Millions" anil "ZieifeM 

■-. Fo llies" • 

Kew CAMKI, PROORAM. Friday 
10 p.m., E« T 

Mat.: LOU CLAYTON 



presented, and clearly heard. But 
there- was nothing outstanding in 
either Hicks' way of doing his job, 
-of in which was 'said or done on the 
program, George Hicks is still an 
easy-going fellow. . Sten. ' 

"CHARLIE CHAN" -.,,"'.' ■ 
With Ed Begley, Leon Janney, Crais 
McDonald, Ted Di Corsia, Walter 
Vaughn, Eleanor Audlcy, Lou 
White, organist .■*•-'■;.. 
Producer: Chick Vincent 
Writer: James Erthein 
30 Mins., Thursday, 7:'0-8 p.m. 
LIFEBUOY SOAP 
WEAI'-NBC. New York 
* (Rnthrouff A Ryan) 
Good acting and . able direction 
give this summer replacement for; 
Bob Burns a better than even chance 
to establish an audience, of -its own, 
For the -whodunit addicts, this one 
should provide an .interesting addi- 
tion to. the summer bill of fare. /Ac- 
tion is well paced with sedate under- 
statements by the Oriental Sherlock 
Holmes underscoring each develop- 
ment. 

Initial stanza on Thursday (61 was 
a dramatization of a not-too-puzzlihg 
sequence tabbed "Death Says It With 
Flowers...", Script was ' pa tttttly - un- 
original-' :-biit . direction and acting 
managed to lift , session above the 
story. ;'.;':' '■'■/-•■'.' '"■'" "... 

'Commercials in themselves were 
terse 1 and effective but- by spotting 
three of them plus an opening and 
closing announcement on the pro- 
gram much of this effectiveness was 
diluted. Elimination of at least one 
announcement would still get the 
sponsor's message over and not try 
the listener's patience.' Turo. 



Overseas for USO Since Jan. 
'43— Now Touring British Isles 



Berle-Baker, Good Parlay 

Looks like Eversharp has hit on 
. something. You can sell plenty 
of red top . lead— or ; any other 
product, for that, matter — by 
means of a . two-show parlay 
whereby the best features of a 
sponsor's brace of -shows.- are ' 
blended together on One program. 
..' That's what happened when .' 
Eversharp .salesman Phil Baker 
w-eht over to Eversharp salesman 
Milton Berle's "Let Yourself GO", 
stanza last Tuesday (4). Espe- 
cially with the script that was 
' turned out for the pair. . What 
teamwork and what, comedy! It 
■ was radio's, counterpart of the 
. bc.-it that the N. Y; Palace had to 
offer in its heyday of vaude. And 
it was something that sponsors of 
multiple air shows might , well 
look into. 

, Those "blood, sweat and tears" 
wbeks in whipping the Berle 
show into proper shape are now 
paying off big laugh dividends. 
Here's the Berle that radio had 
long, waited for. That 10:30-11 
' p;m. Tuesday night- spot on the 
Blue has suddenly become a val- 
uable time segment. Rose. 




FRED LIGHTNER 

Dir.: PHIL COSCIA 



"YOV'RE TELLING US" - : " - . 
With Carl DeSuze 
Producer-writer: Carl DeSuze 
15 Mins., Mon. Thru Fri., 12:15-13:30 
p.m. 

WIS/. Boston: WBZA, Springfield 

A show depending entirely On the 
infectious personality and •off-the- 
cuff . Wit -'of Carl DeSuze, this slot 
has caught a big rating here for»day- 
time variety distinctive for reflecting 
the Boston scene. . 

No two slots are exactly alike, as 
formula appears to vary according to 
the writer-announcer's whim. Often 
conveys quality of improvisation as 
tre--itrtei'vie j wfS-tinespeeted-people7-re- 



Tlie 



Snprinllzlns: In 
Entertainment Field 



Carl Oppenheimer 

20 Years. Experience 

BiiHinesa find Tax Consultinit 

•331 HOt,T.YWOOI> BLVD. 
Hollywood 28. fa HI. 



views plays and films (often out- 
spokenly critical), plays esoteric mu- 
sic (Schoenberg's "Pierrot Lunaire," 
for example), recites rarefied poetry 
and comments on it, discusses sur- 
realist art, banned or unusual books, 
and arty dance or ballet trends. Dis- 
tinctly intellectual flavor to the slot, 
and the gingham nook goes for it. 

DeSuze varies this, airing of opin- 
ion with whimsical stories about -a 
trio Of mice, or a bumbling old Bos- 
tonian who knows all the quaint 
spots in town, and fills with smatter- 
ing of cookery and gourmet stuff 
when the spirit moves. Stanza, in 
short, is announcer's dream for fill- 
ing 15 minutes with personality, and 
it works.. Title of show comes from 
idea of letters being springboard for 
arty discussion as listeners ask for, 
an opinion on, say. Dali. Elie. 



Television Review 



"SONG SERIES" 

With Dick Brown, Merle Pitt orch, 
Jimmv Wallington 

15 Mins. '•;-';.,",.' ;;■;'.. 
Sundavs. 6:45-7 p.m. .'-.-'- '. .'. 

FOKMFIT 

YVOR-Millual, New York ';.;;, 

'Ifiii6fuHMn.il • , 

Dick Brown, baritone with quality 
sinking voice, heads, this new stanza; 
which via romantic ballading is 
pitched for femme listeners and to 
excite interest in sponsor's product. 
Said to be first time a manufacturer 
of bras and girdles has pacted' air 
time to promote product. Delicacy 
of article and sales approach is said 
to have scared 'em off. But • with 
such a seasoned spieler as Jimmy 
Wallington on the commercials it's 
di ff erent 

Brown tees off with vocal of 
"Amor" in neat style, giving way to 
Merle Pitt crew for "Holiday for 
Strings." Brown counters with an- 
other ballad of romantic idiom, 
"Deep Night." which gives even 
greater scope to his tones, then se- 
gueing into "Long Ago and Far 
Away." Pitt has inning with "Sheik 
of Araby," and then -Brown with 
chorus of "I'll Be Seein' You" for 
signoff. ''•• '.-- . ;. ' -.' ,•' 

Despite brief running time. Wal- 
lington . manages to sock over four 
plugs for - the sponsor. sp^Jfnjr~the~ 
yocals and ihstrumentals, and all in 
good taste. :,:":'.'■- 

Brown's vocalizing and Pitt's back- 
grounding and selections add up to 
good listening. ; Edbn. 





;.;,- "Shame on you for applauding! How is the poor thing 
going to eat her Wheaties now?" 

It's, tough, being separated from l ing flavor. But why let it happen? 
your Wheaties. Frustration indeed; There's plenty of The Cereal. Just 
foregoing those crunchy whole ask your grocer for Wheaties, 
wheat flakes with the second-help- [ "Breakfast of Champions." . 



"HERE'S BABE RUTH" •■' 

With Babe Ruth, Ben Grauer 

Pi odutei -Director: George Creamer 

Writer: Ruth Brooks 

15 Mins., Sat., 10:30 a.m. {;-■ 

Sustaining ■»•,.'.". 

WEAF-NBC, New York 

The perennjal idol of baseball fans 
started his second year Saturday (8) 
broadcasting his diarriond quiz. Al- 
though some of his younger fans 
have never seen him play, neverthe- 
less he still remains a magnet for 
kids of all ages. . ' 

Format has a group of children 
selected from the New York area 
each week who shoot questions at 
the Babe on the national pastime, re- 
ceiving an autographed baseball for 
their efforts. 

Program, slated for sponsorship 
by A. G. Spalding after two more 
sessions, is - a nostalgic bit of pro- 
gramming, to please young and old. 
as the ex -swat sultan trades personal 
reminiscences with his audience, im- 
pressing with his infectious good 
humor. - ' - . v 

Ben Grauer acts as umpire, calling 
the boys to the plate, and does his 
customary polished job. • 



Radio Followup 

— TEeon - JaTm^y-has-taketr-over-tifcular- 
role in "Chick Carter" series, making 
a creditable substitute for Bill Lip- 
tc:i, "who had created and played part 
for two years, but having reached 
age of 18 enlisted in the Navy on 
July 1. Janney had also been in serv- 
ice but was recently discharged. 
When caught Janney gave his usual 
good performance in the attention 
arresting stanza. Script, direction 
and playing up to par. 



"FUN IN STUDIO ONE" 
With Powers Gouraud and Horace 
. Feyhle. :.'.:' .■'- '-y, ' 

30 Min., Mon . Wed., Fri., 3:30 p.m. 
PENN FRUIT CO. 
WCAU. Phillv. 

Powers Gouraud, Philly's "Night 
Owl." has been brought out. in broad 

with the hausfraus in aT)oLrse : pOo^<? 
audience participation show which 
is modelled somewhat after "Break- 
last at Sardi's;" 

Horace Feyhle. WCAU sound-ef- 
fects man. thinks up the stunts and 
gimmicks in which the ladies par- 
ticipate. When caught a couple of 
the gals competed in . a commercial 
reading contest hi which the winner 
of the most applause got a couple of 
dozen eggs. That gives you an idea. 
In addition actresses and other celebs 
are interviewed by Gouraud. 

Show has okay promotional tieup. 
since tickets are obtained at any of 
the stores of food chain bankroller. 
Prizes likewise are sponsor's prod- 
ucts. ••;„•• Shal. 



"THE FAVOR" 

With Joseph Julian, Miss Lesley 
Woods 

Writer-Director: Worthineton Miner 
15 Mins.; Fri. June 30; 9:15 p. m, 
WCBW-CBS, N. Y, 

Some of . the. television experts 
claim the soap operas of radio (ven- 
erable daytime serials 1 will fit nicely 
into new medium of television. If this 
is. a. sample, it appears dubjous.; The 
dullness of. daytime scriaisTs accen- 
tuated when- the players parade be- 
fore; television' cameras, and the same 
dry, stilted lines are still there. A"d 
even 'first-rate radio players, as in 
"The Favor," cant overcome the 
script. 

CBS gave this one extra-special 
production. It was nicely adapted 
by Tony Miner from War Bond play 
supplied by Victory Players (part 
of American Theatre Wing), and cast 
showed evidence of trim direction by 
Miner. But the experience of view- 
ing miniatures, with technical blurs 
that crop up on any tele set. is far 
from breath-taking. A 16-millimeter 
home motion picture outfit is far 
more satisfying with less strain on. 
the optics. . 

Plot concerns a typical Brooklyn 
working gal. who is about to plunk 
downr $275 "for a fur coat— it's a bar- 
gain because her; girl friend knows 
the manager. She's meeting said girl 
friend in a tavern.. Out of the clear 
blue. Soldier Casey appears. He's 
been in on D-Day in France and the 
working gal "wonders why he's back 
in Brooklyn. She prattles about the 
hardships of war on the homefront. 
He tells her how Izzi'e \yas biiried; in 
Normandy and John lost a leg in 
Italy. He finally persuades her as a 
favor to save the $275 and put it into 
war bonds; Then she learns from her 
girl friend, who finally shows' up, 
that Casey has been killed in France. 
It's been an illusion. Treatment of 
illusions is tough enough in films, 
and it doesn't: seein well suited for 
television just yet. . 

Joseph. Julian was excellent as the 
soldier despite his lines, while Leslie 
Woods was fair enough as the work- 
ing girl who sees the light. Re- 
mainder of cast, the bartender and 
the girl's pal. were okay in bits! 

Wear. : 



"CIVIC SALUTE" 

With Henry Sylvern's orch, Bea 

Harris, Gunner's Mate Elmer Cola- 

santo, Adolph Chesley 
Director: Mary Daly 
Writer: Samuel E. I.evine 
Thursday, 7:30-8:00 p.m. - 
Sustaining 

WINS, New York 

This new series is a local feature 
destined to salute the five boroughs 
of greater N. Y. Teeoll staiv/.a 
r.n. June 29 was focused, on the 
Bronx, in comniemoratioh • of its 
celebrating its 30th anniversary on 
I that day. . * •' •. - 

1 Adolph Chesley, prcz of Bronx 
Board of Trade pointed up program 
with history of Bronx's origin, hav- 
ing been named after Danish early 
settler, Jonas Bronx. Narrative 
told of accomplishments and 'strides 
made by borough since 1898 to -date... 
growth in population, its mauv 
parks, etc. 

Bea Harris, local songstress, con- 
tributed several pop vocals satisfac- 
torily backed nicely by Henry 
Sylvern's musiekers. Program also 
projected Elmer Colasanto, Gunners 
Mate, who told a stirring heroic 
story of wolf pack hunts in the 
North Atlantic for which he re- 
ceived Presidential citation. He had 
been selected as outstanding Bronx 
hero of the war. Combo makes tor 
informative, good listening. 

Idea of series is to bring -into 
focus each week a town, city, or 
borough within the corporate limits 
of New York City.. . ■ Edbo. 




"Authors Playhouse." NBC's nine- 
week summer replacement for 
"Truth or Consequences" in the 8:30 
slot Saturday nights, will take a 
Hooper beating jf the teeoff is any 
indication." Dramatizations of out- 
standing scripts presented before, 
when the series was on the web Fri- 
day nights at 11:30.; don't shape up as 
weighty enough to hold audience in- 
terest against tough midevening 
competition. Frederick Eriglehardt's 
"The- Kracken," drama, was the ini- 
tial program last Sunday (9). 



Participating 

ON 

KM OX 

ST. LOUIS 




K*St «EOMOE E. H ALLEY 

TEXAS MN8ERS LUMUV 

'HOTEL PICKWICK, KANSAS CITY •, W. 
. AN ARTHUR S. CHURCH MOOUCTOH 



WI GIT NO FAN MAIL 
FROM THE 
FIJI ISLANDS! 

Th* Fiji Islands situa'Ud in th« South 
Pacific covtr an orsq of approxi- 
mately 7,069 square miUs and hav* 
a popularionof about 180,000. Ther* : 
may b* a f«w radio r*csiv«r> on th« 
islands but ws wouldn't know b«cous( tho islandori 
..jpjpS%r n»4&Ppf 'is** ^ WHl, But w» do 
'«i..i&4&'ty&/&K-1li>-9St'*'Bitf))>ii9 Trading Area, 
population over 6,000,000, more and mora people ara 
listening more and more to WFIl . . . and writing to tell 
us. In 1943 the. most impressive 'gains in listening audi- 
ence in this entire market were registered by WFILI 
If you have not lost the capacity for change then wa 
Invite you to moke more soles through the use of WFIl, 
the.stotion which serves the Philadelphia Trading Area 
and r nol the Fiji Islands. - - , , •/. ; . * .. 




A BLUE NETWORK AFFILIATE 



Rmprttmntmd Nationally 
hy th» Katz Agmncy 
PHILADELPHIA** MOST PROORESSIVI RADIO STATION 



WFIL 



* 56© K G 



aw** \ 



to HERB MOSS, AL PASCHALL, LILLY ENGEL, PHIL DAVIS, CARL MANNING, RAY HARVEY, CARL JAM PEL 



FOR HELPING 



"TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES" sell $19,000,000 in ve» bonds! 



ON 5TH WAR LOAN TOUR 



Ralph Edwards 



Wednesday, July 12, 1944 



N Y. Agency Men 
Active at WRGB 



By JAMES L. CONNORS 

Schenectady, July 11. 
More . than ^ "score of programs, the 
commercial phases of which range 
from one ninute to an hour, have 
been prociuc d by New York Adver- 
tising agencie, in the past 10 months 
oil WRGB, General Electric tele sta- 
tion. Significantly, most products 
plugged are extensively advertised 
via press and magazines. It is ques- 
tionable whether any exact scientific 
appraisal of just which formats' and 
•technique's have been most effective 
is possible; The products have pre- 
sumably.bcen ones which lend/them- 
• si Ives best, or at least well, to.tele- 
Aisipn. - '•'./ ;" '.-'/• /• '• 
:.: BED&O has been the most prolific 
experimenter during the period in 

' question, having handled 14 shows 

./or demonstrations. John South well, 
now with . Young & Rubicam, was 

V that concern's contact man in most 
instances. J. Walter. Thompson lias 

: put ' .oii_.fo.ur commercials in that 
time, the. Organization apparently 
leaning toward longer shows. Tom 
Weatlierly arid Gene Ktiehne are the 

. Thompson toppers in. the television 
■field, Compton agency has staged 
three commercials via WRGB. 

Agencies have brought talent from 
New York for more than 50.';» of the 

. programs. WRGB records do not 
show the names of New York per-- 

V formers; :or the agency men,, iri a 
number of cases.. They reveal that 

./.' Y.votle did a ohe-minute commercial 
for- ivory Soap, through' Compton, 
oil the same night that Compton 

.•'•'Imported Stan McGo'vern, New York 
Post cartoonist, lor a 60-second 
demonstration for. "Mbbiloil. Comp- 
ton also employed Buft'aoo's puppets 
.for a Duz show. .■/., ; . : ,' ■'. 

Thompson put on a 15-minute skit, 
with t\vo to three minute commer- 
cial announcements' for Owens- 
Illinois glass, on April 28— the day 
members of the American News- 
paper Publishers Ass'ri treked to 
~Sche'h"6ctaTly to "ta*e — in — a — Nt — ¥- 
Herald-Tribune demonstration. Lat- 

' ter, by the way, was probably the 
sweetest space-grabbing exploitation 
in which GE had a hand since WRGB 
/made its debut. Agencies have hot: 
figured in most of . the . newspaper 
; and magazine -shows. :.'■.' 

Longest Commercials • " 
The longest commercial programs, 

: . one-hour,' were staged, on the . same 
night by the. Thompson organization. 
Mary Stuyvesant, Ponds beauty ex- 
pert, demonstrated right and wrong 
methods of applying , makeup, etc. 
oil the first hoiir. The second was 
devoted to a demonstration by the 
Red Cross and Reichel Laboratories 
of the process of converting human 
blood plasma and its administration 
on the. battlefields; ..' 

The second longest commercial 
shows were half-hour affairs. One, 
by Goodrich, involved a- demonstra- 
tion o.f the process involved in, the 
production of synthetic rubber, by 
Dr. Howard E. Fritz, head of Good- 
rich research. A specific demonstra- 
tion 'was given of Koroscal for rain- 
coats, window . drapes, tablecloths, 
etc. This was a BBD&O effort, as 
was a half-hour program for Rem- 
ington Anns Co. On latter, sports- 
men • offered- lips to hunters, dis- 
cussed "arms and ammunition and 
underlined safety rules in hunting. 
The Thompson office, rap another 
half-hour show, for the American. 

: ' , Ass'ri of Playing Card Manufactur- 
ers. This took the form of a bridge 
game played by experts. 



1 



ELEYISION FOLLIES' 
ON DU MONT SKED 



(13) 



First of an annual tele series, 
'The Television Follies of l'!)44" 
bows in tomorrow tiS) night via 
WABD - DuMont. Two-hour live 
variety-musical is in. full costume 
and recjuirps. 10 scenes. Session will 
be produced by Raymond E. Nelson, 
veepec and radio and tele head of 
the Charles M. Storm agency. Show 
features a large east plus nine Cono- 
ver Cover Girls, 

Included in the .cast arc- Nord 
Cornell, Dolores Wilson, Owen 
Davie's, Robert rower, Audrey 
Sperling, Ray Martell, Betty Carroll, 
George Gilbert, Rita Blake, Bobbie 
•lean Bernhardt, Fred Flcsher, 
5tevev, Morrow,. Jules Racine and 
George Foster. Musical score .com- 
bines music from ''"Follies" shows, of 
"J 1e Pi'St with original melodies by 
, Sam Medoff, with special lyrics by 
■Raymmnl-Nol -on.- •'•• 



Bad Spotting of Treasury 
Dept. Disc Shows Cues 
Decision to Fold Series 

Decision of the Treasury Dept. to 
depart from the radio transcription 
field was prompted by agency's feel- 
ing that returns from the work and 
manpower which went into then- 
production . was wasted due- to bad 
spotting by broadcasters. . Future 
plans will be made after consultation 
with, the \yebs and station managers 
and resultant assurance from the; in- 
dustry that. Treasury's productions 
will be aired at times when they can 
reach a sizeable number of people. 
Dept. hopes that the radio industry 
will take greater initiative at the in- 
ception of the new plans and there- 
fore, assure their success. •: 

Other factors such as the feeling 
that continuous series had an ad- 
verse effect' during the Svar loan 
drives and desire to review available 
talent, script material and to make 
production less cumbersome were 
responsible for shutting down as. of 
July 1, and a 15-minute show. \ 



TELEVISION 



51 



NAB Kudoses Harkness' 
Free Radio, Press Spiel 

Washington. July, It. 

July 4 broadcast of Richard Hark- 
ness,.' NBC commentator here, in 
which he plugged for a free press 
and free radio and asked the Demo- 
crats to" take as strong a stand in 
their platform' as the Republicans" 
did, is kudosed by NAB in its . cur-' 
rent membership bulletin.-. 

Reading the CO. P.; plank, Hark- 
ness commented- /" ; ;- : ''■••'•■" 

'•There is the Republican plattorm 
guaranteeing a free press and radio. 
Within a few 'weeks, the Democratic 
Resolutions Committee will begin its 
deliberations in Chicago, If we are 
to keep th is , precious freedom of ex- 
prcssionjn our country, it certainly 
behooves the Democrats to. be equally 
outspoken for a , free radio and...a. 
free press. • . 

'•Otherwise there will, oe a tunda- 
■ mental issue in this: coming presi- 
dential campaign, the . vital issue .of 
freedom of expression." . 



Getting Performance Rights for Fix 
And Legits fewest Video Snags 



With .sponsors, unwilling to spend 
much coin on development ol ma- 
terial for television prpduei ion. an 
additional headache for video ex- 
perimentation lias manifested itself. 
Showmen con troj Up'gi perfoi ina.nce 
rights of old legit and picture ma- 
terial refuse to permit- their use for 
television on. a snsta iniug , . oa,->is 
These same people, it's pointed, out. 
will be only loo willing.' to hop 
aboard the- -gravy train, when- the 
video medium can ' manage to. pay 
juicy sums fp.r pci formimccs. Right 
how. however, they're unwilling to 
allow the tele outfits use. of their 

plays. -'/',/'/ ■ ••'/'// '--■/•.-'"•';}". 

Case in point was the recent., can- 
cellation of a skedcled performance 
of '-Petrified Forest," which had been 
penciled in for July • Z. performance 
v i,i WABD-DuMOnt. Television 
Workshop, producer's /of the . tele 
stanza, were 1 "informed .that, . film 
rights to the play iiicluded tele pcr- 



formances. :so . outfit had to switch to 
an. origin'ai. Same outfit ran into (he 
financial barrier when trying to. line 
up a presentation of Noel Coward's 
' Filmed Oak." They were informed 
that they would have to pay $100 for 
one performance. 

Film rights angle also tics up-much 
of the worthwhile material and ['■» 
pointed out that pix interests are. 
also/ looking forward to television' as • 
a future source of revenue and they 
ought to be agreeable to contributing 
material, for its growth. RKO Tele- 
visioii.would seem lo'haye .an advanV. 
tage over other .'tele, outfits, hi. 'the 
reservoir. 61' materia) stored lip by 
liie screen stories in their files. Hut 
the' rest, of the tele groups are de- 
pendent on/play brokers, who cither 
can t.- make up. their minds on what 
to Charge lor tele rights or \v ho set 
rates i,\ inch are too high except for 
anything. but heavily endowed com- 
mercial performance. 




RABBITH ASH, KENTUCKY... /„/,., /„„a //-.. 



Save for the whimsy of its name. 



,^^'..5>>;./?v . 

Even the placid, Ohio, 
Flowing endlessly down its \ alley. 
Spares but. a sidelong glance as it passes . 
So many similar places/ lias it-seen //:-. .;.':'. 
Along its banks. . ,'/■'.•' 

The general store; - 
lis bench of boxes with: a plank across; • 
The unshod yisuth beside 'his uw*)*nt ear; 
Tlie leisurely villagers, 
f. oiling in the heat of day, . /. 

Suggest, not merely Rabbilluish in 19-1't, 
Hut any one of thousands of hk h louris. 
On any summer day / ^ 

Of any year within a generation. • .;'/" 



Only the rusting petrol pump, unused since rationing, 

And the starred flag in the window, •*, .. '. 

Speak of today;--- "*■'* - ."■••* ■>**»» x*^Cia^-»^;^^^^.^^(r s 

Only the topics of debate 

Around the forum of the general store— • 

.Gltcrboiirg, Saipan, the hateful rocket bomb; 

Or Dewey's presidential chances-— 

Remind that this is 1944. \ - ;.■ 

Yes. . . . TSabbilliash is just another place 

Mi thou t importance in a big and busy world..,. 

Except 16 those whose vorld begins and ends 

" ■ ' right here, • :, -'■ / ' -/. r-. - ? i"/ "'■; . ' ."/ '.'. V;' 

Am] to ns. '•;-■'•: •'■■ ."/■.' '■.■'•'.:••.'•. 



WLW 



The ftiuiloti'* Mo*i Mi-r<handise«ilAe Station 

Division Or J IK IMlMf V. f-OH'ORATIOM 



32 ORCHESTRAS— MUSIC 



Wednesday, July 12, 1944 



Bands at Hotel B, 0.'s 

(Presented herewith, as a iceeldy tabulation, is the estimated cover 

charge busitiess being done by name bands in various New York hotels 

Dinner business (7-10 p.m..) not rated. . Figures after name of hotel give 

room. capacity' and cover charge. Larger amduiit designates weekend, and 

holiday price. Compilation is based on period from Monday to Saturday.) 

■-..,'.■■ ... Cover** ,-''• T«tul 

Vci»ks f-inert. 

Itilllll Hotel : ; I'lil.Vfil Week On l«»lf 

Tucker-Prima.....Astoi- (800: Sl-Sl.50) , . ........ 1 3,959 41,329 

Lahi.McIiVtire. . Lexington (300; 75c-$1.50> . .....125 2.067 .228.442 

Tony Pastor"..... New Yorker (400; $1-$1.50>. ......... 9 2.224 18.724 

Glen Gray . ... . . ..Pennsylvania (500; $1-$1.50>. . . . . ... ;/ 11 2,632 27.707 

Xavier Cugat.....:Waldprf (550: $2) : . . . . 2 3,102 -6,303 

Dean Hudson. .....Lincoln (275; $1-$1.50). . - ..>.. 5 ■ ; 992; ; : ^,442 

* Asterisks indictae a supporting floor show. New Yorker has. an ice show. 
Lexington, Hawaiian floor show. . 



Los Angeles 



Freddie Martin (Ambassador; 900: $1-$1.50). Grove still closed because j 
I waiters', strike, No orch. on bandstand. 

Joe Reicbman (Biltmorc; 900; $1-$1 50'. Pulling bulk of hotel trade -lor 
dinner. Rates 4,800. . - '..-'.'., 



•''••• ; ' : ". ^ -V^: Chicago -^V--- 

George Hamilton (Empire ..Room, Palmer House; 700: $3-$3.50 . itrin.'). 
Lack of turnover kept Hamilton and show headed' by Victor Borge frojrt. 
getting more than 9,000. ',..",. '.j {\- '■ . ' ' ]. .. ' 

Woody Herman (Panther Room. Sherman hotel; .950; $1.50-$2.50\ Her- 
man packin* 'em in. Played to great 8.700. > 

Eddie Oliver (Beach Walk and Marine Room, Edgewater Beach hotel : 
4.600 combined; $1-$1.50 admission to Beach Walk for dancing and show; 
50c and 75c cover charge, plus $1.25 miri. in Marine Room).. Combination 
of band's popularity and spot's closeness to lake breezes kept total up to 
nifty 10,000. .-'■'' ;.'-' •'•".' >',:-' '.:'':'■■.''■•/■* : '\ ' V'' '-'v 

Bill Snyder (Mayfair Room. Blackstone hotel: 400; $2.50 min.). , Irene 
Bordoni proving good draw. Pulled excellent 2,100. '"■'■ : '--Y, 

Benny Strong (New Walnut Room, Bismarck hotel; 465; $1.50-$2.50 min.). 
Biz holding up nicely with Strong responsible for very good 4,200. 



Location Jobs, Not in Hotels 

..-'.".-. "•'•'■••••-..'■"; (Los Angeles) '.-..'•' y 

Jimmy Dorsey (Palladium B, Hollywood, fourth week). Still clicking 

oft steadily at 35,000 peak. 

Jan Savitt (Trianon B, Southgate. fifth week). Gathering strength and 

wowing dancers to tune of 9,000 tabs. 

Frankle Masters (Slapsy Maxie's N. Los Angeles, first week ). Holds 

Royal Flush from start with Merry Macs and Harmonica Rascals on floor. 



... ■' (Chicago) . 

Gay Clarldge (Chez Paree; 650; $3-$3 50 min.). New show headed by 
Mitzl Green, which opened Thurs. (6) keeping up fine average set by 
Sophie Tucker. Capacity 5,200. 

Carl Havana (Blackhawk: 500; $l-$2.50 min.). Holiday crowds helped 
Ravazza account for swell 4.500. 



10 Best Sheet Sellers 

(Week Ending July 8) 

Swingin' On Star. . .'-, .... . Bui Ice 

I'll Be Seeing You. . .'Williamson 
Long Ago, Far Away. .Crawford 
I'll Get By. ..,.. ;. . . . . .Berlin 

Amor .Melody lane 

Gl Jive.. . . . ... . .. Capitol 

Goodnight Wherever. .. .Shapiro 
Time Waits For No One.Remick 
.Siln"' Fernando Valley. .. .Morris 
Some Day Meet Again. .Witmaik 



Ringling 

Continued from page 1 



Band Review 



G I ; ORG IE LOPEZ ORCH (13) .;•':;•')' 
With Elaine Vincent 
Dixie Hotel, N. Y. 

Georgie Lopez, who was featured 
trumpeter with Xavier Cugafs orch- i 
estra for the past five years, has 
branched out on his own and re- 
veals great promise, provided he de- 
cides lo play in a definite sweet of 
swing 'style. As it was, the orch: did 
both- sweet and swing, when caught 
with just ;' fair results, showing " the 

ecl for more rehearsals, and .'better 
arrangements. ' '' i. .' 

Composed of five sax, three trum- 
pets, two trombones and three 
rhythm, with Lopez oh" trumpet, the 
group was at its best when it -stuck 
to the sweet stuff with Lopez blow- 
ing a slicli horn, indicating Which 
way the road ahead should be. while 
in the jive vein it demonstrated a 
brassiness and cacophony that grew 
to loud proportions. Surprisingly 
enough, considering Lopez' back- 
ground in Latin tempi, it didn't fare 
too well when it assayed below-the- 
border tunes. 

Leader, who has a thick Spanish 
accent, confined himself to playing, 
with the emcee introing numbers 
and therefore didn't impress audi- 
ence with his personality other than 
musically. 

Her first job with a band, Elaine 
Vincent is a comely lass who is bet- 
ter than average in selling a song. 
Band could also use a male singer 
on ballads and novelties to lend 
more variety. 



Marty Schramm band into Club 
Brazil, Houston, Pa., after 18-month 
run at Hotel Henry, Pittsburgh. 
George Wells has replaced him at 
Henry. • ". ' , . ,': 



showing under '-'canvas - again until 
the tent can be fireproofed, for cir- 
cus-goers, it's held, will have to be 
reassured against recurrence of the 
Hartford holocaust, . In fact, that 
tragedy may knock out all tent 
shows, it's figured. 

Couldn't Fireproof Tent ; : ; 

Recalling the Cleveland fire of 
1942, when ■ valuable animals were 
lost (camel herd being virtually 
wiped out), Robert. Ringling tried to 
have this season's tent fireproofed. 
The DuPonts have a method of mak- 
ing fireproof canvas and there are 
chemical treatments for such protec- 
tion, but it's claimed that all that 
material is being used by the Army. 
Last year's main tent is in .Sarasota 
and there, is a possibility that prior- 
ity will be granted in light, of last 
week's disaster.. 

Ringling was not with the show 
and was not summoned to Hartford 
by authorities: He is primarily con- 
cerned with production, while James 
A. Haley, the husband of one of the 
owners, and general manager George 
W. Smith, are operational chiefs. 
Both are held under $15,000 bail 
pending the Hartford Hearing, along 
with other department heads. 
: It is possible the fire will be a 
financial knockout for RBB. Under 
the Connecticut law, maximum lia- 
bility for accidental death is $15,000 
per person, and if full damages were 
awarded for '" ose killed, the total 
would be more than $2,300,000. In 
addition there will surely be claims 
by those 1 maimed, for which there is 
no legal limit on the amount of dam- 
ages. Show is said to have liability 
insurance of $500,000, but the liabil- 
ity of the insurance firms to pay is 
believed to depend on whether con- 
tributory negligence is proven on 
the part of circus officials. 

The entire loss of life was in the 
reserved-seat sections between tw'O 
steel runway exits for the wild ani- 
mal acts, which open the show. Be- 
cause of the runways two exits were 
shut off, leaving but one. for escape. 
If the show goes on again, some 
other method of getting the animals 
in and out of the performing arenas 
must be devised, or the animal acts 
will be eliminated. 

If the circus docs not resume, it 



will have been the second time that 
RBB has stopped in mid-season, the 
first having occurred in 1936, when' 
the sho\y was sent back to winter 
quarters after a strike of razorbaeks. 
There is some chance of the show 
being booked into big indoor arenas 
such* as Madison Square Garden and 
the Boston Garden. 

Around 75 staff newspapermen 
were rushed to Hartford; by eastern 
newspapers to cover the disaster. 



Negro Scenes Cut 



Continued from page 1 



ing made known until inquiries 
reached N. V. home off ice, and news- 
reel companies declared they had or- 
iginally put: such scenes in. ' ■'.-. 

This prejudice has also obtained 
w i t h all-Negro films.. "Stormy 
Weather" was h e I d up several 
months bef if - Memphis permitted it 
to be shown. In several other cities, 
the 20th-Fox sepia-musical was only 
ok. yed after censors were assured 
that the film would play black and 
white theatres simultaneously, dfty- 
and-date. so that white houses would 
not get Negro partonagc. Normally, 
ofay .houses would get the film first. 

Atlanta is another key city that 
has been using a municipal censor- 
ship similar to Memphis, with less 
publicity. Crux of the problem is 
that although white southern au- 
diences enjoy Negro sequences in 
films for their entertainment value, 
they will not countenance any scenes 
showing the Negro on -\ basis of so- 
cial equality with the whites. Local 
censors wiil eliminate such scenes, 
regardless of the effect on the artis- 
tic side or the continuity of the film. 
If Hollywood producers continue 
filming scenes, implying social equal- 
ity, say certain exhibitors, there will 
be active municipal censorship all 
over the south. A practical solution, 
they say, disregarding aspects of 
ethics or social consciousness, is that 
if Hollywood producers wish to per- 
sist in filming such scenes, they must 
be filmed so that they can come out 
of the picture without disturbing the 
continuity. 




ji 



>» 

25? 

55 



2 

-J 



§ 
55 
»* 

I 



i 

. S 
g 

! 9 



ballad of this 



or any V ear 





■Si 



, im „- w The Boy* 





GEORGE SCHOTTLER 

RKO Btitt.6lNCi. NtW YORK" 



LEEDS MUSIC CORPORATION 

LOU LEVY, Pres. 
BERT BRAUN 

»4 W. RANDOLPH ST., CHICAGO' ' ' ' 



Recorded by 



Recorded by 



an* TC o^ 



HAPPY GODAY 

1537 NO. VINE ST, HOLLYWOOD 



9 




m 
•< 

2 

to 



\\Y.liH's.lay. July 12, 1914 



PfiftlETY 



ORCHESTRAS— MUSIC 



S3 



Top Tunes of 1943-44 Season 

I F row copyrighted Audlinre Coi^erage Index reports by the Office oj 
fteseurch-Raiiio Division mid reproduced by permission of the director, 
■Dr. John G. Peatman The: top 25 sono hits, us ' -determined . hy audience 
coverage over national radio networks for the' period July 1, 1943-Jnlu 1, 
1944; are listed'' bc/ou\T - .•■'/ '■"/,. :',-. /•'.'■• ': •' -''•• ." .- .' "-'/.■.' '' - '.'/.'. '.''//' 

--'A //'i':^/'. POPULAR 'J'.;,';//; .% ^ ^ ""V.: V 
People. Will Say We're In tovfi ("Oldahbiria"') '..'."•/ 
My- Hon rt Tel Is Me ( •'Sweet Rosie O'G rady " ) . .';';/ 
' Shoo Shoo Baby r'lFpllow the Boys");.'. v /;//;. , ; 
Besarne Mucho . .,'. ..... , 

I Love Yoii ("Mexican Hayrjde" )'■■ . 
P. per Doll <2> . .-. . ... , 

Oh. What a'Beaiititul Mornin' i3) i"Oklahoma''i 
■ Long Ago and Far. Away ( "Cover Girl',' i , ; . : . • ;•.'..'". 

No Love, No Nolhin' (''The Gang's All Here' i 

' It's. Love, Loye, Love 



'. . . Crawford 

Bregman . 

. . . Leeds'. . 
;.,'/ Southern , 
,.'.': Chappeli • 
.•..Mark? : 
. v. . Crawford 
, . . ..Crawford 
... . Triangle 
, ...Sar.tly .. 

Put Your. Arms .Around Me, Honey ("Coney Island') . Broadway 

Sunday. Monday or Always. (4 ) ( "Dix'ie") . . , : ; '-..-'... V;; ' 

San Fernando Valley . ., ..',,. '=-.„•,»» 

"i ll Get By ("A Guy Named Joe"). . . i . . 

How- Sweet You Aj'e r'Tliank Your Li.cky Stars"). 
..My. Ideal . . . ./ .';.;'.;.-.:; . .'.%; /'//; . ;; * .'.'. ...y. . 

I'uinciana , , . 

Either Too Young or . Old 't "Lucky Stars";). . , , . 

For the First Tune . ' . ■ , .: . 

When They A-k About You. ,/. . .... , ,, 

Holiday Tor St) nigs . , , ,, , ... 

Speak Low i "One Touch o[ Venus' I . ...... .",-< 

Pistol Paekin' Mama . . . ..i..V. .',,,/. .. : 
' Mair/.y Doats . . . /Vy . ". '. ; .- r .'. 

Don I Sweetheart Me ... , . 



Mi \ tftfr 
. May fair 
.Berlin 
. Remick 
'. Famous .... 

Mark-. 
-. Wit mark . 
.Shapiro; 

Berlin 
. Bregman . 
. C happell 
.Mori is 
; Mil It I 
. Advanced ; 



' ;, TOP STANDARDS OF 1943-44 ''v.'. 

The lavomte 15 standards ol .1943-44: as determined -by Audieirce Cover- 
cue index over ttiitilfnal radio it'eticor ),-.<. ';/."■ '.'.'-... -■ '''•■•>'"■ ;' : -' : ";' 



Edwin M' Arthur Returns 
From SW Pacific Tour 

Edwin McArthnr returned 10 >J.Y. . 
Saturday i£t) from his .second, six- 
month tour of the. Southwest Pacific. 
Conductor had landed in California 
a nionth .ago, w here he 'stayed to con- 
duct, live concerts' with the Standard 
Of' Co of California svmphony or- 
chestra over , the Don Lee West "coast 
network. ' -. .": . ..'■.- '/ 

McArthur had gone overseas at 
special, request of Lt. Gen. George C. 
Kenney, in latter s personal suite, 
to ari'ange musical actn Hy progi inns 
among troops. 



Rodg 



ers, Hammerstein 
To Join in Pbilly Salute 
To American Composers 

.Philadtlph;a,.July ll 
Richard Rodgers and' Oscar Ham- 
mtrstein. II, are the latest to join, the 
parade of ,tune-eletters : wlib -will ap- 
pe.-it at. the Robin Hood Dtll s S Urtc 
to" Compose >'s of American Songs^'fon 
Aug 3- under- the- direction, of Sig- 
lii'liiid Romoerg : ■■ : 
Hammerstein will act as masver of 



Bands Now Seen Raiding Syraph 
Orchs; Wald Snares Six From Cleve. 



♦ Jei;r,v ; Wald has augmented bis 
orvh w illj six-piece string >coU«rt- for. 
his,boW'in at Pai-iimounl. N, Y.. to- 
day <12i. recruiting them from, .the 
CI( \ eland Svmphnuv Orchestra. 

With bandsmen seemingly having . 
mil) ou.t on raiding each othei's ortl- 
fil.s, the. raid ng iof. the s>;mphs is. 
Viefted as possibly the beginning 
of a trend tor bancisnieii who h;,\e 
I'K ti sU'mied. i'n trviivg to' Mi up 
th'tii;' own comljos !hrnugh. : inability. 



James Buys In Dorsey 
Bros., Daillard Dancery 

;' .'.'■'•' , . Los Angeles. July 1!. . 
OWii ershj p of the. Casino. Ga id e n .- 
BaHrooitt lease.: originally -.bought jj'y 
Tom.my and .Jimmy Dorsey, 'is'jiow a 
four-way' cpmblnaUdn. ' ■'. ) 
^Wayne Daillard;' Sail Diego, '.dan- 
cery operator. was recently admitted i ,r ' »a«t crack liujsikeis joi-'tiieif' bi'dt 

Jo .partnership and now 'Hurry i ; , 

Symph 



J.imt v . band leader 
with each owning 25 



has bought in. 



PONS-KOSTY MAKE GI'S 
GO LONGHAIR IN PERSIA 

Editor, ' Variety": 

•Peistan Gulf Command. 
Lily Pons and KosieluueU both 
turned out.to be theinost succ'essl'u! 



musicians. -are sh.iwvng. a" 
prtleriiice for She band jobs rtV-t 
only beci.uM 1 <il tl.ie gr.catei rraram i . 
lit ion but filso, because it., its moi e 
M(:i(!\ work. With ,s,\ mnhs working. 
iv)"'"y' 2ii- \s i eks ; a yiur oir nui.' i, 
tin stage ;rind-.danc(i y chores. . wi'h. 

higlii i \r.t\ -are -eeJi w inning !iie. 
I"'i..li,.ir bo\ s ovi i . 



ceremonies for. the 'show .which 'has : \ show u e ever hail. Both deserv e a. 
been arranged with the coopetatio* *;;lo.t of credit, for the wondertul job 
of the ' Songwriters Protective Assn.' |'tl»c.V did: . Wlien; they . tirst : arrived 
of which Romberg i^ pic/. : ylie otganixed an orchestra of'GIs 

Among the other songwriters who and they started to reheaise some of 
will take part are Harry Armstrong 



Blue Skies ......... ; 

Begfn'the Beguihe. .... ;,.,' 
Kmbr»ccable.,Y<Vu . : . 

Star Dust 

Night and Day. 
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. 
Somebody Loves Me , . 
AM the Things You Are, .. 
. .Inst Oiie of Those fhing.s. . 
Where or When . . . 
Oh, Lady. Be Good , 
Tea For Two ... 

Halleluiah '. 

My Heart Stood Still .. .. . 
Make Believe . '■ 



Army Air Corps 
A'H'hoi's Aweigh 
Marines' Hyinn . 

Over .There 

Simper Paratus 



PATRIOTIC 



. Berlin • 
. . Harms 
..New World 
..Mills 
. . Harms 
. .T. B. Harms 
..Harms 
. . Chappell 
... Harms . 
= . Harm* 
. Harms. 

Harms 

Harms 
. . Harms 
. ..T. B. Harms 



..Fischer 
.'Robbing 
.U. S. 
. ''"cist 
Fox 



Inside Stuff-Orchestras-Music 

;., 'Difficulty encountered by agencies, in overcoming the reluctance of band 
leaders to: play one-nighter.s"and out-of-town engagements because of pepr 
ti aiisportatioii. bad housing conditions, food shortages, etc,, in. spite of the 

.•ttraL'tjv.e. eoiVi, is. exemplified, by Kerbie Fields' experience. :,'..' .' 

Fields, aiid his orchestf a,, who opened at the Paloniai: ir. Norfolk Wednes- 
day 1 28) for three weeks, found it almost impossible to get rooms. Halt 
of the banilboys. had to sleep in used cafs which were hired for the night. 
Added to their troubles was the fact that 12 bottles of liquor were stolen 
from the band baggage— tough because the town is under Navy and Alcohol 
Bevei'iwe Control, with bootleg stuff selling for $10 a bottle.. ' ' 

Entertainment in town consists of two burleys. both, doing socko busi- 
iiessi and ..a few picture houses, with the big . feature for thousands of 
lervicemen aiid war workers being the ballrooms and dance spots, which 
are Idled no- matter Who's playing. . ' 



Harry Tiei.ney, Peter DeRose, Lucky 
Roberts; Dorothy Fields. Milton 
Drake, Al Hoffman, ..J.erry Livingston. 
Abel Baer, :Ray '.Henderson.- Nat 
Simon, Herman Hupfeld. Charles 
Tobias, Joaii Whitney, Alex Kramer. 



his . more popular numbets such sis 
Begin the Beguine".and : favorites of 



Ted Fetter Asks $87,500, 
Claims 'Conspiracy' On 
'Taking Chance' Rights 



Ted Fetter, one of the . con- pose: « 
of ^Taking A Chance: On • Love," Jast 
week i7 ) charged Loew's. Miller Mn, 
•V : ic; or .'Herbert. •. "-Within a couple of. 1 sic,. :Leo Feist and John Latouche, 
days: after he organized the band: he j co-author.: With r<iii.spira.cy-to, destroy 
had the GIs playing Willi Kostelaiu tz 
perfecfioii. The • kids idolized him. 



N Y. HURRICANE IN 
SWITCH TO ICE SHOW 

When the Hurricane, N. Y. niier.y, 
reopens next month, flporsbow pol- 
icy will be switched to the ice motif 
W illi production of "Beauty On Ice," 
which will include lineup of around 
20 skaters. Show will be produced 
by MeGowan and Mack. long fea- 
tured in 'Tce-Capades." with mixed 
team also/being spotlighted in . spe- 
cialty bits, ; 

Tentative opening date is Aug. 15, 
although tee off will depend oil how 
soon renovating job on Hurricane's 
interior can be completed. , Show is; 
set for six weeks with options. 

Mickey A-i perl's'- band; current at 
the Hurricane when club temporal'- j it 



ily' shuttered sev eral weeks aso. will 
be retained for the jee pi eduction. 



They played their hearts out for him. 
When he motioned, for more violins, 
they gave him. lone aiid color the 
likes of which you. never, heard. He: 
was fremendously, impressed by their 
playing; .•: . , ;:: ' '.':.'-'; ' :.;',--', 

. After the orchestra was ready, the 
concert went on tour. They: played 
every engagement their schedule 
called for. Miss Pons, who has never 
suiig more than twice a week in hei; 
life, was singing Uvb- shows a day 
and .offering three and four selections 
at each performance. They played 
at camps down on the Persian Gull 
and at camps in the very heart of 
the' Traiiian desert. »: Their ' concerts 
started on . tiirie in spite of dust i 
sforrhs and ' terrific heat. It was.; 
tough on Kostelanetz .but it w;.s a- 
■•ood deal tougher- on the'liltlc song-' 
"bird. Yoii don't have ileal as high as | 
15:1 de.'.'iees and: dust. storms at the ; 
Mel,. But she pi-oved that she could j 
and the men loved her for . 



his interest in. the tilm l ights of : I he 
song,- in a suit filed in. JJ; Y. Federal. 
Ci.vui't, Action seeks a total ijf -. $87,500 
dainages. Delendants i re alleged to 
hi v'e. converted his interest'., in. .the ■ 
song. .which was used in two Loews 
'Metro) , films, "Cabin In The Sky," 
and "I Dood- It." for theiri.selves. . 

Fetter asks for $30,000 against all 
defendants for alleged conspiracy, 
$25,000 from Loew's for value of film 
rights of. the song used in the t wo 
films and failure to give him screen 
credit. $25,000 and $7,500 from Miller 
and Feist, music publishers, respec- 
tively, for violation of trust, as hold- . 
er of the copyright. * 



T. Dorsey Gets 17,000 
At Dancery. Over 4th 

.'. „ ' - Los Angeles, July , 11. 

:Dor*oy brothers, "Tommy and 
Jimmy, opened their newly pur- 
chased " Casino; : Gardens - Ballroom 
with 17.000 admissions over the 
i weekend and .national holiday. 
Tommy's band played, the first date. 

.Lined up thus far .'for future dates 
are Charlie Barnet. Harry James and 
Jimmy Dorsey in that order. 



During the Philco summer replacement show. Paul Whiteman, is -bring- 
ing back some or his aiumhi for a- "then- and now"' cycle.. This/is ail part 
of a "Whiteman vestibule of fame'' script, which is the. lighter touch .to the 
regular '"Radio Hall of Fame" series. Curiously . enough, the many dis- 
tinguished' alumni of Whileman's riiusieal.:aggregatioii.s through the years' 
some time ago literally presented the Deail .of Jazz with an Ornate walnut 
"door of opportunity" beai iiig their iiameplales. aniong them Bing Crosby, 
both Dorseys. Dinah Shore. Morton Downey, Mildred Bailey, ei al. '*r 



Aussies Also Take To 

Ballet in Big Way 

■ ,'vielbotu'ne. July 10. 
For the first time in its". history. 



-Civilian Advi.No.y Committee for the U, S. A' my. Hit Kit, which . selects 
the monthly soldier, songs, by ballot, .now. eompi isrs Dr, Raymond Kendall, 
■ USO; Hki't-y. Fox. MPPA: E. C Mills: maestr.os Maik Warnow. Ray Btocb 
Paul Whiteman. Fred Waring, Guy Lombard'o, Kay -Kyier, Rudy- .Vallee 

.^H^'iy: James, Jimmy and Tommy -Dor-ev. Benny Goodman: also Lucy 
Monroe. Kate : Smith. Dinah .'Shore, ' Bing Crosby 

. ' "Variety" i. .-'-' .,! "./. : ' '. . - ' '.'' '■'-.- 



an3 Abel • Green- 



Just after' he had booked Harry Jaihes' band into West View Park, Pitts- 
burgh, lor a one-nighter, tonight i Wednesday), at bettei than $3,000. 
against a perceiv.vge,: Joe Hiller, leading Pittsburgh, agen.t. happened to be 
tluimbing through his books and discovered. that just four years ago to.. the 
day, he had bought Jame> I'm an amusement, pai k on the out>kirl« foip-8 
•single night at $225. : '. .'.',' ' ^ ' : •:.'•. ; ; : .v / - ; ':y . ■■'-,•',.•.:; 



Leopold Stokowski. is reported planning a South American opera, w ith 
music by S..A. coiupo.sef, tor the N, Y. Cily'Centtr of. Music and Drama 
fit xt itdson,' The South Americs,n country conceited Wit) foot iVe pi-'O- 
•lucfion bills as a good \< ill gesture. 

- Stokowski, originally slated- only to conduct his newb org. tiized Civic 
^'inphony. will coniltict the opera'. '-..,; -';.',- •..' ■' 



it! 

If I say. "tremendous crowds 
turned out to see. the concerts," yoii 
will think . I am . just a . little tod 
Broadwayish: But' lhat : is just about, 
i lie .only word I can . use to describe 
the crowd and keep .within- military 
censorship. Thanks to Major Gen- 
ei.al Connolly, commanding this mis- ; 
sion. riren wlib arc posted at outlying 
stations were, given time o'f from - 
their duties so they could make a 
trip in. and enjoy the concert's. The 
trip' Was well worth while, they a|l ; 
agree.. Pons and Kostelanetz are two ; 
people the men of this Command wilt : 
' remember for a very, long tirne. :..' . j 
| Mu.eh credit should go to Carolyn j 
: Gray. who. featured at the piano and' 
j Frank Versaci. who offered several, 
j selections playing '.' both' flute and. 
' piccolo. ;. It was a perfectly paced 
Iconcert and the. men. most, of them 
! iruckflriyers and fallroaders and 

. . AtevedoreS, sal through the two hours , 
Australia has.liiic i s.own ballet this , cf> , |<l(dv f: ,, ( , :1 .,,. fl by ,i le !r - ^ ? : 
year, not one but two companies, of <; 
A;..-.-ie artists now enjoying highly 
successliil :So'a.son The two groups , 
are the Heiene Kirsova Ballet aud i 
the: BOrovanski ''Ballet'.. . both formed I 
by . ii ::-.cors w ho came' here;- three 1 
years ago with Col. .<{«! Basil's Baliet.;. 
Riisse; "and stayed in. Aiistialla. to 
start ballet -schools and /.Win .thei.r 
■own dance -.companies - with their 
filipils'.. . • . /" "•-'-. 
. Mine. Kirsova . and her troupe of 
f!5 : in. live . artists,. M'fer . three weeks 
Of.."sellout .pei'torrnauce.s in Mel- 
bourtie, are how' on lour. In Aiie- 
laide lines formed at the . theatre- at 
C a.m.. ah. unheard of .procedure in 
these: parts. The Kii soya l eperlory,' 
like the personnel, is in.a inly/A Ust't'a- 
tfi'h; Mine, Kirsova using only, a few 
classics ., like "Swan L'.kt" . aiid 
••Sylphides," w riling .new balit's of 
local liackgrpiiiid. for the rest, as. with 
her. "Ha'.lefpiin." "Haiisil and Gietel" 
and "Revolution of the Uiuwi el las. ", 



SONGWRITERS WARNED 
ON 'SAD SACK' USAGE 

. Songwriters and authors have been 
warned that the phrase, "The Sad 
Sack." is copyrighted by its creator. 
Sgt. George Baker, and can't be used' 
except by permission of Baker or his 
a-jent. William Morris Agency. . 
" "The Sari Sack,". cartoon of an un- 
lucky GI. has been .running in Yank,' 
Army weekly, for two years, arid 
may be put' out in bopk form. Fa>t 
beepmine . a household wot'd. "The 
Slid Sack" will continue into civilian 
.life . after './the.- war.' according to 
Baker, who' has had many o (lew to 
commercialize the feature already. 



Rosenblatt'* Concei t Series 

Henry Rosenblatt. bi,,-so. son of 



■ "yariety." i^sut of July (t. inadverteufly 1 ' included' in Ki copy for C'irit.eii 
V'avajlarp: that the' iiiaeslro was openiog -it; th* Pilmer ,/Hou.-e. Cl.icafto, 
oept. 21. i<he dale is Sept. 2ti. *' :/ '.» . . ; 



of conducting an orchestra as done 
by .Kostelanetz antl the thril'liin' voice 
of Miss Pons Don I let anyone evti ? 
tell yoii GIs do not eiljoy good music! f. 

If the USO would maintain ' that'- 
level; this country of (le.-erts hev.l 
and dust, slprirls wpuJdti t bt too h i d 
lo take, • . '" ; •:'''/:-/• • 

CWO JOE GANS. 
Associa'e Friiloi, 
■■ r.'Yaivk. Di- patch. | 
/ Persian Gdlf Krlilloii ). . 

Famous Music to Publish ; 
Its 1st Legit Score, 'Rain' 

, Famous Music hns long published 
•film scores— -as -Paramount, s iritisical 
'-ubsid— but with Ute forthcoming j 
Broadway musical version of "Rain.'' | 
F amous will be puolistuiig its (list ' 
legit, score, ■ 

>A.'r Wavman is producing the.. 
Hov.ai (l D'letz-Vern.fH Duke stlovv. ! 
w ith I'lhel (Jpftliair staned in. tlie.j 
Sa ri it. Tho ri>| jsoiv-'riile-. cFoil'tt^l; liry-Hie | 
late .1-1 un« Jiagels,. ./ Paraitiount i.- 
amoiig the backM s : 



Name Bands Feature In 
Popkins (LA.) New Policy 

; 'f7.'~~Lo;s— Angeles. July .1 1. 

Harry Popkili. operator of the Mil - 
lion Dollar theatre, swhig.s over to 
a . name, briiii policy. liest ' joohth . 
through a deal with Music Corp/ of 
America, '.which- will provide tin. 
b; nils in as niany .weeks, .starling . 
Aiig. 2 v. itir Charlie Barnet. 

In. coniunction v. it'i the mine 
bauds, -Million Dollar will prpl.auly 
.-/low s" number' of Sami.i'.'i Gpli'yv'yn 
re-issues, recently tiiken ov:i r by 
Kihn ClassK.s, Popk.n & I'< • I . y 
hold dislrihution ru/il-. on the. GoW- 
v. vii .films in Southern C lilorni/i 

Calloway's Nova Scotia 
I-Nighters Be^in July 24 

.Cab di'TIow-sn •» Noya- Srot'/i taunt 
of on( -r-i •.•liters.' v. i, c h °:0 ym ir 
vviiv lulv 24. wjil hi run- tro's first 
tour of tnis Canadian sector .'.Ithoug.h- 
Ciilliiw.fy lias: pifvioii.'ly .shown in 
Monlieal, Toronto add other do- 
minion !.'tops. CalI.')Vw,y bind is 
thirii major outfit v, itinn year to ph'y . 
XoV'a Scotia, havini' h<<n prc'.oid. 
by 11.' I ifclnlyi> and Jan Savilt. , 

Cs lioway is booked 'roi 1-2 one- 
night stands, fifii.-hing up tour on 
August r> and opening the fi,1fr 
at the Zanziliar. .V. Y. lie 11 p.ob- 
. b'.v leihain ;•,! It.t1.tfi spot tor iTght 
,wt'el:>. '.'••'' ... '.:'" > : ' ::-'v"''"-' ■'" 



Baiidleinlri- Hub A*l«r, who his 

been con vi.Uscliii; i, ( ,;i) -a c-llapsed 

faiptd can'or Josef Kosenbl;/.t, to do i.amoiig : the backers. . : . . , . ■ luufe iil the Veterans ho>pita|. m..P;.tt»-.. : 

a concert: series of Jew isii. Xear'.Kf .st // ■ - . ' —--- -••- • ': '. ' '. .'.ou/fcii, is now '".*ule to be Up mil 

awl -.Orientil- mUs'c I liij fall'./ '/ -/('ciini Bask/.'aiid ,erew> open at Vhe. , around s .bit,. . AUor; w ',10 ci irtracrtd 

AVti.st tissbcei siiigiiig .(llh the j Or phAim, .I.os Angeles. Aug. 1. for | 1 ueU'iTonia while' in the /e;.\ -ice tor;. 

PKiiao'elpnia-l.a Sciila 'Optti' Cti. in'-/ 'l v.b v. eek.-'., followed \y llieatre.dates : a while, ><as ■< pr»-{!.v '.-'!t:k boy md 

der i.aine.of r^.ul, Denni^ , : , - -/r-.ii'fu.^an' ^rj-ticj.-lw'^iMl Oaklarid.. p .£■%'..* i'jH* h\f IJl.i n despaired */U 

- ; "-'.'-'' '■■ -'' ; ■ ■/ -I. :'■':'-.'.■' '- •'"/': "," ' /' '' 'V :' :" '.' ' v.'*"' .-"':■ .'. '':. " : " "'. t'" v Ai ":' : , '•" 
.: • , ■ ■ ■ ., :-.■' . .: ,', ■.„.',.■.// •■ • ...:".■..' ■..'■", ,■.•'■:.;.--; :■/.; , ■.,.■.■'.'.... , 



SI 



ORCHESTRAS— MUSIC 



-U%!RIETY 



Wednesday. July 12, 1914 



NOW 

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS 

HOLLYWOOD, CAL, 

With- 

Abbott and Costello 

"IM SOCIETY" 



Starting Oct. 15 
NEXT FEATURE 



With 



China's Xhialing River,' 
Top War Tune, Points Up 
Contrasts of 17 and '44 

; Washington. July 11. . 
,. . The "I. ili Marlene" of China is a 
: new popular song called "On the 
I Chialing River," according to reports 
! from Chungking which say the num- 
ber is sweeping the country, holding 
top ratin/ with civilians as well as 
soldiers./" 

Intereking angle of "Chialing 
River" is^hal it is not a martial tune 
but has the" 1 same nostalgic quality 
;as "Lili Marlene'' and "White Cliffs." 
Thus, all around the .world, the top 
war songs are entirely different from 
the "Over There" type -.'which scored 
most heavily in 1917-1?. 

Music is by Ho Lu-ting and lyrics- 
by the poet Hungrtiang: So popular 
is the number that it is now included 
in the new edition of "China's Pa- 
triots Sing." issued July 7. '.. • 

Free translation of part of "Chia- 
ling River" goes: .; ■ 
• On the duy When (lie. enemy took 

our village. . 
Thai day Host field and farmhouse. 
Family and cows and sheep. 

Now as I walk by the Chialing 
River' ' ■'•.':„' ' .'.'.v - 

I seen to catch the fragrance of the 
'. old homestead." >.' \ -..•.•<'. 



"THREE STOOGES' 



WILL NSMR1TO 

AND HIS 

HOLLYWOOD BAND 



of failure of cooperative agreement 
which ODT sought to work out with 
various government departments. 
Hereafter, if Treasury wants even a 
special .. ear for ' touring show biz 
people on bond stints, it will have. to 
j. get' permission from. ODT. filing 3 
formal application. .'•: . 



For Motion Picture? : ' 
EDWARD SHERMAN AGENCY 
Hollywood '■:. ■•':.'■ j-''-^ 

MANAGEMENT 

GENERAL AMUSEMENT 
CORPORATION 
NEW YORK HOLLYWOOD 



ll'wood's '44 War Efforts 

Hollywood. July 11 
"Film players . traveled . a total of 
866.000 miles and contributed 8.960 
free appearances to entertain the 
armed forces, sell war bonds and 
help the Red Cross and other worthy 
organizations, according to Holly- 
wood Victory Committee's report for 
first six months of 1944. -< 

HVC records show a total of 29.788 
appearances by 3,239 performers 
since Pearl Harbor. 



NBC, CBS, Blue, Mutual Plugs 

Following is list of the most played popular tunes on the networks for the 
week beginning Monday and through Sunday, July 3-9. from 5 p.w. 
to l a. m. List represents the first approximately 25 leaders in alphabetical 
order . (in some cases there are ties, accounting for a longer list). T lie- 
compilations embrace the NBC. CBS, Blue apd Mutual -Networks) as repre- 
sented by. WfMF, WABCi/WJZ and WOR, N. Y„ and are based ov data 
provided; by Accurate Report ing Service, regular checking source of the 
music publishing industry; . •„> , 



OPA 



Continued from page .1 



Loesser Whiteman's Guest 

. Pfc. Frank Loesser, songsmith now 
attached to the War Dept. music di- 
vision, has been borrowed by 
Philco's Paiil Wliiteman for next 
Sunday's (16) broadcast to vocalize 
a couple of choruses in his. (Loes- 
ser.'s) war song medley. Whiteman 
is saluting the 'World War' II song- 

| smiths of whom Loesser is notable 
for his "Praise the Lord." "In My 

I Arms," etc. 

{ Incidenti.'.-y, the soidier-pianist 
who soloed "Rhapsody in Blue" in 
the Gershwin musical tribute is 
named Pfc. Stanley : (not Walter) 
Freedman. as erroneously reported. 



Step Lively",.! . ; 
Days Ashore" 



■ TITLE 

■ A Fellow on a Furlough. . 
[ Amor — i"B'.way Rhythm" 
| An Hour Never Passes . 
j And Then You Kissed Me 

Apple Blossoms In the Rain— 

Every Day or My Life .,..,.,„.,,■ .,.,.,'. . 

Goodnight Wherever You Are- . , , , . .;, . , , . 

Holiday For Stwngs . . .. 

How Many Hearts Have You Broken? .. . . . . 

I Don't Want to Love You..-. : . . .'". ; ..... . ,"..'■;'.' 

I'll Be Seeing You .... .•... /..'..•. :.:■..'•.';, ',.','■'..'.■..'.. ; . 
I I Dream of You , . . . . . t , r. . . 

I'll Get By— . Guv Named Jpe ,, , ' 

It Could Happen to You— -t"And Angels Sing".,. 

It Had to Be You— fShow Business". 

Kentucky ...... ......... 

Long, Ago and Far Away — '< "Cover Girl" . . . , ;, . . . 

Milkman Keep Bottles Quiet— t"B'way Rhythm" : 

j Pretty Kitty Blue Eyes • 

! San Fernando Valley ..,......„,,....,.,,..,, . 

Some Peaceful Evening- 

: Sweet Lorraine ..... ..... . 

Swingiii' on a Star— t"Going My Way \ . . 

Time Alone Will Tell— v"Pin Up Girl".'. >.;■'.'. ■;;': 

Time Waits For No One— '."Shine Harvest Moon" 

What a Difference a Day Made. . . . . ;..Vl . : ... • • . . 



Lynn Ban. Susanna Foster, , Lana i 
Turner, Milton Berle. Orson Welles. | 
Jack Benny and Rochester. Misclia 
Auer. Rosemary Lane. Ilene Woods, 
Dizzy Deane and Johnny Coy taking 

j part. ?'.; .. 

Film company executives. wKoj 
have been aware of the crisis in | 
travel facilities lor many months, 
have been making trips to and from 

] the Coast far less frequently than 
heretofore in keeping with Govern^ 
ment requests to restrict travel. The- 
atre circuit executives, w.ho neces- 
sarily travel more than any other ! 
persons in the film industry, also : 
have cut down, using- the mail and] 
other means of communication 
where possible. . "•' ~.V • ... : 1 • v '. 

• All Fix Execs Cut Down '; 

Paramount partners, and Metro 
sales and production— tappers^JiQld. 
fewer meetings now because of these 
travel restrictions, and majority of 
the film companies this year are 
holding regional sales meetings, 
rather than one national convention, 
to facilitate matters. Only company 
holding one national convention this 
year is RKO. with the meeting al- 
ready set to start July 24 at "the Wal- 
dorf-Astoria in N. Y. 

Bands and vaudeville troupes on 
the road have been taking a terrific 
beating at the hands of OPA officials 
throughout the country. Latest in 



Hampton Tops Own 
Record at Apollo, N. Y., 
With 26G Gross for Wk. 

Lionel Hampton and orch set a 
new record ;at the Apollo; Harlem. 
N. Y., by grossing over $26,000 last 
week. Band bowed out oil Thursday 
night .(6) to head lor Canada and a 
tour of one-nighters in that territory. 
• V^-impion's boff biz gave him over 
$13,000 for his end, being in. on a 
straight 50-50 split. Banc p layed' 
eight shows daily and kept the 
wickets sizzling despite torrid 
weather and lack of a cooling system 
at the uptown house. There were 
rows of standees at practically every 
perf ormance. . 

Hampton had held the previous 
house record of $22000 for New- 
Year's week this year.- 



PUBLISHER 

Block 

.Melodylane ' 
.Shapiro 
. Miller 

Melodylane 
.Paramount ; 
.Shapiro 
.Bregman 
.Advanced 

Chelsea 
.Embassy. ., - ~ 
.Williamson 
.Berlin 
.Famous 
.Remick 
.Broadcast-.. 

Crawford 
.Feist 
.Santly 
.Morris 
.Campbell 
: Mills 

Burke 
.Bregman ' 
.Remick 
.Marks 



t f'i/iniisical.. " hegit Musical. 



Television 



Continued from page J 




I stance of Government action against 
I a band leader occurred in Omaha. 
I Neb., late last week, when Maurice 
i P. Healey. manager pf the Ina Ray 
I Hutton orch. was held there for trial 
i on a charge 'Of "conspiracy to violate 
OPA gasoline regulations.", ... ' ■ 

Miss Hutton and the orchestra 
were permitted to continue their 
Kansas tour of Army camps in three 
autos for which, it is claimed in the 
complaint. Healey tried to obtain 
gasoline witti OPA inventory cou- 
pons intended for use by filling star 
tions in replenishing their supplies. 

Use of railroad rolling stock and 
plane space is being devoted more 
and more to the transportation of 
wounded brought back to this coun- 
try for hospitalization from far- 
flung fighting fronts, according to^an 
OPA spokesman in N. Y. Monday 
( 10 •>.'. '.'There must; be less .travelling 
by everyone, necessary or otherwise, 
so thai these men can. be trans- 
ported quickly, eyen if it means the 
eventual rationing of travel. We 
don't want to reach that state, but if 
the people do not abide by our . 're- 
quests now. it will be necessary to 
ration travel very soon/' he stated. 



OAT Gripe on Stars' Treks 

Washington, July 11. / 
The Office ot Defense Transporta- 
tion gripe against the (Treasury star 
bond tours,: first reported recently in 
"Variety,'' came to Hie surface last 
Saturday (8 » in a formal ODT order 
banning speciiil cars and trains for 
War Bond rallies, etc. ODT, as ex- 
plained in "Variety," believed it had 
made a deal with the Treasury and 
then later claimed it was double- 
crossed when bond tours went on 
although the '.Treasury did d'tch its 
fllan for a special Hollywood bond 
train/ - , . „ 

The order came jhroitg*,. because 



\ 



Payson Re orch at Hotel Belmont 
Plaza's Glass H^t. N. Y.. had option 
taken up for four wcreks. 1 

Tommy Reynolds and musicrew 
opening a mid.western tour in Kan- 
sas City. ■ :".,' : .«. ■ ' ' '';.' - ;,' ; ;. 

Lenny Conn, at the Hollywood 
Palladium, added June Hayden to his 
crew as vocalist. 



Louis Jordan's orch doing one- 
nighters on the Pacific; coast before 
opening at the Golden Gate theatre, 
San Francisco, July 19, ';-. : ■ \ : 



Freddie Slack, currently at Slapsy 
Maxie's, Hollywood, booked for a 
tour of California one-nighters be- 
fore swinging east for theatre dales. 



Tommy Reynolds and ork hopped 
out of Hollywood for dance dates in 
Wichita, Kas.. returning to the Coast 
in August. ' ' ' ■ , .■•'■'. '; 

Henry Busse's ..musicrew' moves 
into the Hollywood. Palladium Sept. 
5 for six weeks. • . 



Fletcher Henderson and band 
shoved oft*, on a tour , of the Pacific 
Northwest. 



Earle Hines and band booked into 
the Club Plantation. Los Angeles, in 
October, following Count Basie. 



Frankie Masters and ork moved 
into Slapsy Maxie's nitery. Los An- 
geles, td celebrate the Fourth of July. 



Tiny Brown orchestra held over 
indefinitely at Pirate's Cave, San 
Diego. ■ • ..;' - ; • . V 



Harry Owens band doing a iinur 
sical short at Warners. 



Jimmy Dorsey orchestra to War- 
ners to play in "Hollywood Canteen." 



Ray Kinney and his Royal Hawai- 
ians booked into the Vogue Terrace. 
.Pittsburgh, for s run beginning 
Aug. 4. .';' .' 



"no rfjajtter how gooa your program 
and material, it Will'.not mean much 
unless, you show- home pictures on 
far larger . screens-, than today— at 
least 24 by 20 inches in size." He 
said his company is convinced that 
nothing ... smaller than pictures, the 
size and. reproduction fidelity of 
home . motion pictures eventually 
would satisfy the public. Levey said 
sets ..used today give pictures only 7 
by 9 and 12 by 9 inches. 

Answering a question if. Sco- 
phdny's interest in the film field 
might delay marketing sets for. the 
home, Levey said the company's pol- 
icy is strictly independent, and that 
definitely such sets would be made 
available as soon as physically pos- 
sible alter the war. He stated that 
present laws prevent retarding any- 
thing in the .public interests, and 
that film company interests under 
stand this. 

Pointing to fact that his company 
has had actual commercial exper- 
ience with large-screen supersonic 
projectors in London theatres, Levey 
staled that the important British 
Odeon circuit ordered 60 theatre in- 
stallations for metropolitan London. 
And that subsequently, important 
American film interests (Paramount 
and 20th through affiliated compa- 
nies'! went into Scophony in the U.S. 
" Costs • 

After his. talk. Levey told "Var- 
riety" as regards his plea for co- 
operation .': among film . company in- 
terests that .only such co-operation 
would make for economical televi- 
sion in cinemas. He pointed to fig- 
ures previously quoted by other 
companies that tele sets in theatres 
w-ould cost around $30.000... Levey 
stated to "Variety" that his com- 
pany planned to make such; sets at 
a maximum of $7,500. possibly less, 
and that Scophony's experience in 
London showed the upkeep was very 
low% As to boxoffice in film thea- 
tres alter, the war. Levey said film 
industry leaders were aware that 
keen competition from other forms 
of entertainment Was indicated when 
peace comes. . . ' : ., 
. For television in theatres. Levey 
showed large slides illustrating the 
tele projection outfit successfully 
used in London theatres He 
claimed the theatre projector re- 
quired low operating voltage and 
no cathode ray tubes. He said this 
tele projector .'was as easy to oper- 
ate as a standard theatre film pro- 
jector, ;-..':" •.'.?';•', ". < 

Pointing up that the struggle be- 
tween television companies and film 
interests may grow to large pro- 
portions. Levey stated, "it ; would 
therefore seem ' a recommendation 
for cooperation between motion pic- 
ture interests should be considered 
sound." ' .•..'•; 



Herbie Fields, Out Of 
Army, Lines Up Own Orch 

Herbie Fields, who formerly sat in 
on clarinet and sax for the Raymond 

Scott quintet, is lining up a 16-piece 
oich following his recent medical 
discharge from the army. 

Combo, Which will he handled by 
Music Corp. of America, will feature 
Fields as vocalist in addition to a 
femme singer. Latter has not been 
selected as" yet. '-■ ; ■ . 



Willy Stahl at Paramotint to do 
original score for Pine-Thomas pic-' 
turc, "Dark Mountain." 




Ain't many ottirr iiniWiialJ.f 
famiiUN pmfesHMMials uw. 1M*.. 
VISl'AI, index n-ennj • ?K over 
101) IMI'OKTANT nllislt- pult- 
livliers — <<oin|»le1i* Info plus leail 
Hlieet. and l> ric of rhuru^ ot ottt 
favorites hi il advanee releases. 
SAMPLES FRIOK. 

TUNE-DEX 

Hil'J Broudwuy New York 19 



Top Tunes for Yont Books 

An Ail-Time Favorite 

EXACTLY LIKE 
YOU 

Music by ... 
JIMMY MeHUCH 

Published by 
SHAPIRO-BERNSTEIN 



mat Jordan 



TO I.OriS ,?OKI>AN: 

■*"Ynnr rcci»(lini( of *<i-I .The'.)'*. 
Ihe iitu - 1 of to n plnyod l.itnn n(i' out' 
jtlkfllKiX fit t)|t) P^t ' i'aXC'jlMIIKf x » 

C«pt. 

'.), Chtetflo, Illinois- ■ \ 
■ *"Otir tiimtuWe man del" ■ limr** 
miiieUs foi- your reronUnu iif '(■ 1 
-*|vf" tliftii 8iiy .othtr emmu - i>oim : 

lui-.ltltie " ■'■■''.''.''-. 
,' LllSUtr 

Chicago, Illinois 

" The War Deiwrtmciit (Vtcu mil «1>- 
lovv ||io list! <>r te^tliiMinliilH 1>ilt 
these letters are. being lieltl on Hie, 




'BONDAGE' STABS NAMED 

'•'{•.' ^Hollywood. Julv il, 

Eleanor Parker and Paul Henreid 
draw co-star roles in "Ot Human 
Bondage," remake starting this week 
at Warners. \'" v ... . - •.: 

Edmund Gouiding- directs and 
Henry Blanke produces, i /' 



SONGS YOU'LL LIKE 

"Oaiiriy ItelniiKs la i'nele Sa»»'*: 
*'l»ear Snn": "Dnn't Korieet 1» 1'm.v' : 
"Old Glor.V. We're KIkMIhk far Van/ 
Sibl eaclt; X far $1, , S|lf tint i>ii<es tn 
dealers. ■ ■ 

GOOD MUSIC PUB. CO. 

2202 t. Calhcun. Fwt W*ym «.■«'• 



Wctluesday, July 12, 1944 



ORCHESTRAS— MUSIC 



35 



10 Best Sellers on Coin-Machines 

(Records beloto are grabbing most nickels this week in jukeboxes 
throughout the country as reported by operators to "Variety." Names of 
more th an one band or vocalist after the title indicates, in order of popu- 
larity, whose recordings are being played. Figures and names in paren- 
thesis indicate the number of iveeks edcli song has been in the listings 
ami respective publishers.) ■_ ■ .y .-• 



l; I'll Be Seeing You <9f (Williamson). . . , . 

2. Long Ago, Far Avi-ay: (4) (Crawford), . . 

3. 1)1 Get By (8) (Berlin) . . ..... .;-,;.Jg s £ 



\ Bing Crosby. .... .... Deeca 

j Tommy Dotsey ! ..... .Victor 

j Haymes-Forrest ... . ..Decca 

/ Guy Lombardo. Deeca 

... .Columbia 
Victor 



San Fernando Valley <fiV (taoi'ris),'. .... \ ?, ing <>«fby. Pecca, 
•"•..'■ '••'•'■ / King Sisters. ....... . .Victor 

Amor (2)MMe]odylane).„...........;..^ n ^ c .fadriguera ,., . Hit 

''.'•; - / Andy Russell Capitol 



British Best Sheet Sellers 

(Week Ending, June 8, 1944) 
London, June 8. 
Lilli Marlene. ........ .Maurice , 

Mairzy Dpais. ...... . .F. D. & H. 

Don't Ask". Me Why .... Connelly 

111 Get By... ', r..F: D: & H. 
Don't Know Where Going. .Gay 
Sending My Blessing. .-. . .:. .Gay 
By River of Roses . , . F. D & H. 
It Can't Be Wrong;.. .Chappell 
My Heart Tells Me. .Brad Wood 
Paper Doll ,-. . . ... -.Maurice 

All . My Life . .......... Chappell 

Thinking About . . ...... Chappell , 



6. I Love You (9) iChappell). 



GUive (2) (CapitOli. \ Johnny Mercer. 

(Louis Jordan... 



8. Goodnight Wherever Are (4) i Shapiro): 

9. Straighten Up, Fly Right i2) . , 



JO. Milkman Keep Bottles Quiet hi) tFeist). 13? 0d 7, "^I" 3 " ' ' 

'Ella Mae Morse. 



VBing Crosby. ., .. .. . . : Decca 

/ Perry Como. . . .. .... .Victor 

, Capitol 
, . Decca 
. .Decca 
. . Decca 
.Capitol 

. . Decca 
.Capitol 



Pix Bond Drive 



Continued from page i 



Early Settlement of Recording Ban 
Cues RCA Hunt for New Air Show 



Citation for Handy 

William C. Handy, who was in Chi- 
cago Saturday (8) to take part .in 
the American Negro Music Festival, 
is attending .similar festivals in .St. 
Louis and Detroit this week. ' The 
vet songw riter will receive a citation I 
for his contribution to American 
music, believed to be. the only Negro I 
to be so cited. ■ ! 

His new book. "Unsung American ! 
Songs." comes oft the press July 15. i 



In' anticipation of an early settle- 
ment of the Petri llo recording ban, 
RCA is scouting for a new air show 
to plug itij ' Victor . artists. Show 
would be in addition to the current 
Sat.iTr.dfly night Blue network stanza,. 
"Music America Loves Best.": which , 
RCA iU co ntinue 
. Reported that . the hew program 
may go on. a live-a-.weck basis\ •al- 
though details as to format, budget- 
ing, etc., are still to be ironed out. 
J. Walter Thompson is the agency on 
the RCA account. ... - ., '/'•>."' 



, .Russ Morgan 

( Andrews Sisters. 

/ King Cole Trio , 



whole-hearted job in showmanlike 
fashion, not only contributing to the. 
success of the drive, but adding to 
a great . achievement of ; wartime 

service."'- .,'•.'.'./.'':'' . 



Jimmy Palmer's. Orch Into 
Terrace Room, Newark 

Jimmy Palmer's' oiclv goes into 
Frank Dailey's Terrace Room. New- 
ark, for two, weeks starting July 21. 
Band will be followed by Lee Castle 
cohibb which is set for ten weeks. 
V Palmer'is fronting the former. Dick 
Stabile band and filled iii at ihe.Ter-. 
rue* Room for Frankie Ci.rle when 
J.ilter was forced ' to. forego several, 
(kites because of radio commitments. 



HOT LIPS' PAGE ALBUM 

Oran "Hot: Lips" Page has made 
his first set.of discs in seyerai. years 
lor Savoy label doing four :Of his 
own 1u lies. .. . ' -,, 

"Lips" and a combo headed by Sid 
Catlett, Clyde Hart,' and Don . Byas 
recorded : "Dance: of the Tambou- 
rines,'' "Pagin' Mr.. Page," ."I Keep 
Roliin' Oh" and "Uncle Sam Blues." 



■ .'. Hal Grayson organizing a band to 
be.'made up of men discharged from 
military service, • • 



.. . Aloe Sadwick, trombone player, has 
cjuit A! Marsico band at Nixon Cafe, 
Pittsburgh, to join Henry Busse. He's 
being replaced by Don Emberg. from 
Tommy Carlyn ore at 'Bill Green's. 
Pittsburgh. .- 



St52,845,000 From Chains 
Purchase of Fifth War Loan se- 
curities by film .distributing com- 
panies and major theatre;, .'circuits 
amounted to $52,845,000 according to 
Leonard Goldenson. chairman of cor- 
poration investments, during "the 
'drive. .' . :.' ' ' • ".'-.: V,', 

Three leading film company' .pur- 
chasers were; Paramount, .$15,000,000; 
2Uth-Kox and its theatre subsid, Na- 
tional .theatres, $11,000,000, and 
Locw's, Inc.. S! 0.000.000. '.'■....;., -\' ; 

Dallas Negroes' Preem 

' San Antonio. July 11. 
.: As a windiip to the Fifth War Loan 
Drive, the- Empire was turned over 
to. the bond committee of Negro citi- 
zens for a premiere of "Go Down 
Death." all-Negro picture made in 
San Antonio by Spencer Williams: 



Music Notes 



Miselta Bakalrinikoff .-coring "One 

MjMenous Nielny at Columbia. . 



"Songs Of a Lonely Wayfarer, 
published by Mills 



. to be 



. Al Peaice cied'ing "Elmer's Sere- 
nade.'' 10 be sung -in "Fun Valley" at 
Republic. :. . 



' Frani Wax man conducting musical, 
classes for .wounded servicemen at 
Birmingham General Hospital in 
California'. '• '.! • ■'- 

— : "• j l.eijth llarline assigned. to 'VMlMc.il 

: Hans • Salter- assigned as', musical | direction of •'Heavenly . Days." . fib- 
director on .."My Baby -Loves Music'" ber McGee and: Molly starrer, ' at. 
at Universal.' .. .--.'",.' RKO. 



.' Martin Skiles' .writing background 
music lor •'Meet Miss Bobby Socks" 
at Columbia. 



Sauford .'Green: and June' Carroll 
cbllaboratiug oh 12 songs for "New 
Faces of 1945" at Republic.'. : ■ 



Jinimie Fiaiiklin iii charge of new 
Hollywood office of Robert Dc Leon 
Music Co. .. . .;. : '. .:';■:, : : ..".'."r 



Hranislau Kaper scoring "Mis. 
Farkington '-at Metro 



Hilary Lyiui and Eugeiie Zador 
collaborated on a group of tunes. 



Leigh Marline rind Roy Webb 
writing backgrotind. music .for "TaJl 
iii the SaddNi" "find "My Pal, Wolf,'' 
at RKO. : ' 



.liminy Campbell Publications, Inc., : 

N; Y„ has been dissolved. Papers to 
this' effect were .filed, with' Secretary 
ot State in Albany. .: 




r a#e 



PRODUCER OF 





A GREAT SHOW AND A HIT SCORE 



lytic* an* Mutic by OAH SHAPIRO, MILTON PASCAL and PHIL CHARIO 



m 



— — . 



WHERE YOU ARE • I WANNA GET MARRIED • YOU'RE PERF 
FOLLOW THE GIRLS • TWELVE O'CLOCK AND ALL IS WELL 
TO 

I'M GONNA HANG MY HAT JOn A Tree Thof Grows In Brooklyn ) 



ROBBINS MUSIC CORPORATION * 790 SEVENTH AVENUE, N. Y. 19 • MRY JOHNSON, Gen. Prof. Mgr. 

J. J. ROBBINS/ Chairman of the Board • A. OLMAN, Managing Director 



DKK ARNOIO 
Hollywood, Cat. 



IRWIN 8ARG 

Chicago, III. 



FRANK RICE 
Boston, Moss. 



<A« WIST 
Detroit, Mich. 



mw mm 

Kansas City, Mo. 



JACK HARRIS 
Wyiaddphia, Pa. 



36 



VAUDEVILLE 



PArIETY 



Wednesday, July 12, 1944 



Night Club Reviews 



\ i\U- Socieiv.' Downtown 

(NEW <6KK) 

Ida James, Peter Rabbit 3, Josh 
White; Edmund Hall Orch (5); $2.50 
•minimum. • 



Morton, trombone, and JpTinny Wil- 
liams, bass. Hall's quintet is a cork- 
ing crew and swings the tempos 
from straight 'to 'boogie. Abel. 



Barnev Jbsephson started with an 
idea of" unusual colored divertisse- 
ment and has made his Gate Society 
Downtown an institution to the de- 
gree that the^ Uptown counterpart 
(with its mixed show) frequently 
runs second to the Greenwich Vil- 
lage branch in quality. Through the 
seasons now, Josephson and his Bos- 
well, Ivan Black, have catapulted 
personalities like Lena Home. Hazel 
Scott. Zero Mostel, Jimmy Savo. 
and Mildred Bailey to the heights, 
and perhaps in newcomer Ida James 
history may repeat itself.;" , 

She's a comely songstress with a 
cute manner of selling cleancut 
songs. The lyrics might be con- 
strued saucy . by a far stretch of 
imagination. and perhaps .-' Miss 
James heats up in the early a.m. 
frolics, but she does plenty all right 
with "I Won't Say I Will," "Big 
Brown Eyes," "After You've Gone." 
"Shoo Shoo Baby" and stuff like 

that. ■ -. : '. . 

Then there is Josh White, guitar- 
ing mainstay, with his authentic 
Negnr folksongs; many of which 
Libby Holman propagated and for 
whom ' he accompanied when both 
were at La Vie Parisiennej midtown 
smart spot. 

Peter Rabbit Trio from the Club 
Bengazi. Washington, is a piano- 
guitar-bass combo of which, the 
guitarist : is an out-of-this- world 
specialist, while' the serious'-miened 
bulldog specialist is a Harlem : road 
company of Clark Gable in looks 
and manner, even unto that thin 
mustache. The Peter Rabbits do a 
job with "Fly Right," ."Holiday for 
Strings," etc. '/,' 

Edmund Hall, tall Clarinetist, is a 
Teddy Wilson alumnus, as are Benny 



Kiiipiroltooiii. Chi 

' (PALMER HOUSE) 

Chicago, July 1. 
Victor Borge, George Hamilton 
Orch (.14) with June Howard, An- 
geline & Wynters, Virginia Auitin, 
Bernice Evans, Abbott Dancers (12); 
$3 and $3.50 minimum.-'/ : 



Victor Borge makes his Chicago 
debut in the Empire Room's "1944 
Summertime Revue" and is being 
acclaimed by both patrons and press 
as one of the cleverest comedians to 
appear in local niteries. His ma- 
terial remains great and his timing 
perfect • • • 

Whether he is doing comedy chat- 
ter, his very funny phonetic punc- 
tuation routine or fooling around at 
the pifinCs his artistry fascinates. 

Virginia Austin's puppets go over, 
and .Ahgeline and Wynters, grace- 
ful dance team, also making their 
first .Chicago appearance, contribute a 
trio of nicely patterned and smooth- 
ly executed routines. Abbott Dancers 
are seen in two Okay numbers. 

The 10 p.m. "Little Show" features 
Bernice Evans, one of the Abbot- 
teers, who makes a hue impression 
with high kicks and acrobatics, and 
June Howard, nifty soloist of the 
George Hamilton orch. 

Hamilton has changed his musical 
style considerably since his last en- 
gagement at the Palmer House in 
1937. when his music-box music was 
in vogue. His present band is well- 
balanced, dishes out excellent dance 
tunes and plays the show expertly. 

Morg. 



$7,000 Netted by AGVA 
In Emergency Benefit 

American Guild of Variety Artists 
cleared over $7,000 civ benefit per- 
formance given last March, a lesser 
figure having previously been given 
OUt. . ."'..,'' ;/ 

Emergency benefit was staged at 
46th Street theatre. N, Y., in lieu of 
annual benefit usually given in May. 
Reason for pushing up date was to 
raise additional funds for welfare 
division of AGVA that had been 
stampeded via wholesale closings 
and talent : toss-outs, because of the 
incoming 30% nitery tax effective 
April 1, but since reduced, to 20% as 
of July 1. ;':'.''"'/ ; :'',;-" 

Amount stated' is net after ex- 
penses and tax deductions : were 
made, and represents income" from 
ticket sales and souvenir program. 



wSmB 
< 




CLARK BROS. 

Artistry in Rhythm 

Just concluded 37 w*«ks 
at Frank Paiumbos, Phila. 

Now »th week . 
Latin Casino, Phila. 

Personal Manager: 
FRANK BELMONT 



Direction EDDIE SMITH 
Paramount Bldg. 



Minn. T«»rra«'«*. Mpls. 

(HOTEL NICOLLET) 

Minneapolis, July 8. 
Perry Martin Orch (12) , Dorothy 
Lewis Ice Show with Dorothy Leuiis, 
George Arnold, Art Leary, Jo Ann 
Axtell, Afitii Dexter, Ruth Heinz 
and Harriette Kenny; $2 min. 



Negro Vauders 
Snarl AGVA Pacts 

American Guild of Variety Artistj 
huddled last week with managements 
of the Hippodrome, Baltimore; 
Apollo, Harlem, N. Y.; Howard, 
Washington, and Royal, Baltimore, 
in an effort Jo jAWk . out pact for the 
houses. :'•'■':.,'-. !'}'■■. 

Diverse policy of houses involved 
is making it a tough nut to crack. 
Matt Shelvey, national director of 
AGVA, is studying capacity and low- 
priced scales, especially as they af- 
fect the Royal and Howard theatres, 
both catering exclusively to Negro 
audiences and employing Negro tal- 
ent.. Apollo also employs Negro tal- 
ent. Houses are scaled at 35c after- 
noons and 60c evenings. Both are 
small capacity houses and Shelvey 
agrees with the operators that' it 
would be difficult to operate at a 
profit if hamstrung with the 30- 
shows a week edict, with extra pro 
rata compensation- for performers 
doing all over. that number, ••_,:> 
Current AGVA setup for vaucie 
houses has but two classifications, A 
and B. and under ' number of per- 
formances ruling does not curtail 
any house to a maximum number of 
performances. The 30-shows a week 
setup demands extra compensation 
the bag. • ( for acts earning under $800 weekly 

Ruling hits mostly new operations . in A houses and those earning under 
throughout the country. Those of $500 in B houses. In both classifica- 
proven financial stability can post.' lions' AGVA allows 32 performances 
bond or letter of security as here- [ weekly for $800 acts, with acts above 



AGVA MAKES DOUBTFUL 
NITERY OPS POST CASH 

Nitery operators or doubtful finan- 
cial stability will now have to post 
cash amounts covering one-week 
salary for performers before being 
permitted to function with blessing 
of American Guild of Variety 
Artists. .', 

New edict was . decided upon by 
Matt Shelvey, national director of 
AGVA to curtail future jtrandings, 
with performer-members holding 



BORDE, CRA IN DEAL 
ON N. Y., CHI BOOKING 

Reciprocal deal between Consoli- 
dated Radio Artists of New York and 
Al Borde, N. Y. and Chicago agent, 
was consummated Monday (10), with 
effective date as of June 1. Charles 
Green, Consolidated prexy, signed 
pact for CRA. 

Under terms of transaction, Borde's 
booking interests in N, Y., formerly 
handled by his own office (Central 
Booking), will ..be taken over by 
CRA, with latter office's midwest 
deals emanating from Borde's Chi- 
cago off ice, which is managed by: 
Freddie Williamson, Borde's partner. 
Deal is for two years with options. 

New setup has Jack Kalcheim. who 
formerly worked out of Central 
Booking, switching to Consolidated's 
act department, which, is headed by 
Hattie Althoff. Borde currently rep- 
resents about 100 performers. 

Both offices will be represented on 
the. Coast by Reg. D. Marshall, but 
CRA pact does not affect Borde's 
legit' dealings with Dave Wolper 'or 
similar ventures. 



It should speak worlds for Doro- 
thy Lewis to record that her fifth 
annual ice show at this spot is 
threshing the, 30% tax soundly/ 

Last summer Miss Lewis and her 
troupe skated to the music of 
Tsemjikowsky: — Currently— sheV 
'glamor-icing" outstanding George 
Gershwin tunes. Layout is less 
colorful and less elaborate than last 
summer's revue, but it's lively and 
still provides superior entertain 



tofore. Currently the national head 
quarters is holding $70,000 in cash 
security, which provas that even the 
shortroll toys have dug up coin, so 
as to be able to employ AGVA acts. 



Fritzie Zivic Finds It Easier 
To Thesp It Than Fight 

■ .... ,; ' Pittsburgh, July 11.- 
' Figuring that his fighting d ays are 
just about at an end and williprobably 
be out for keeps by the time the war 
ends, Private Fritzie Zivic. former 
welterweight champion of the world, 
plans to stick to the cafe belt when 
ment. Audience enthusiasm is big. I he puts away his khaki. That was 
Blade numbers^ are notable ^fpr j indicated here last week when Zivic 

u after taking a licking from Johnny 
Bell at Forbes Field while home on 
a furlough, signed a long-term post 



thrilling spins and whirls at which 
the two boys, Arnold and Leary, and 
Miss Lewis are particularly adept. 
There's a smattering of acrobatics, 
tap dancing, adagio and jitter- 
bugging. In her own solo, Miss 
Lewis skates to an effective arrange- 
ment of "Rhapsody in. Blue." There 
is also frequent and pleasant re- 
course to other listenable tunes from 
"Porgy and Bess" and "Show Boat." 

Four lookers of the line and Miss 
Lewis are provided with stunning 
costumes. One of the most novel 
line routines is a maypole bit with 
Miss Lewis acting as the pole, the 
girls whirling around her. 

Perry Martin's band plays for 
guest dancing and the show with 
perfection. It's a smart and showy 
12-piece outfit and its music is ex- 
ceedingly pleasant. Martin's singing 
adds immeasurably to several of the 
show numbers and is heard to ad- 
vantage frequently during customer 
limb shaking. y . Rees. 

Chez Faroe, Chi ; 

Chicago, July 8.. 
Mitri. Green, Maurice Rocco, Bar- 
bara Perry, Corday & Triano, Chez 
Paree Adorables (12), Gay Claridge 
Orch (13) with Mary Osborne, Chez 
Paree Rhumba Band (6) with Lucio 
Garcia; $3 and $3.50 minimum. .' 



war contract with Morry Fremont, 
local 10%-er, to represent him ex- 
clusively. 

Fremont was Zivic's agent when 
latter made his nitery debut as a 
comedian and m.c: here at the Villa 
Madrid several months ago before 
going into the service. . Boxer also 
played a couple of other cafe dates 
after that 



that figure permitted to do 35 show 
weekly. All acts under the figures 
must be compensated for extra' per- 
formances, '.'■''.' '••.-; ;' ■'■::■ .'.;■ 

To arrive at. , an . arrangement 
AGVA may have to classify the 
Howard and Royal theatres in new 
C classification but would compel 
houses to meet Class B minimum of 
$85 for principals and $50 "for chor- 
isters on the 30-show basis.. 

Another meeting of principals will 
be held the latter part of this week 
when if~7is expeeTecTHEnat a contract 
will be drafted by AGVA and signed 
by theatre operators involved. , 

Apollo will be worked out a little 
differently since house plays regula- 
tion bills as a rule but every few 
weeks books in a high-priced attrac- 
tion that puts it in class A category. 
This may be solved by designating 
the Harlem house a B-pIus spot. ' 



Current bill marks the return of 
two favorites, Mit7.i Green, who 
comes back after temporary retire- 
, (Continued on page 38) 



RUSSELL and RENEE 




Mr. MASK MSODT— Wwt 



Comedy Trampoline ■ 
Artists 

(TKKKN.TI.Y A^PKARINU 

■'..»,'.'' •'■,'■ ■' :"- AT 

RADIO CITY 
MUSIC HALL 

' VKW YORK 

Thank* to 

LEOIS LEOISIDOFF 

I.KON NKWJIAN— Katt 



Ft. Worth Agent Freed 
Of Stranding Girl Unit 

San Antonio, July 11: 
A Fort Worth agent, who brought 
a troupe of Chicago girls calling 
themselves the "Sunkist Vanities" 
here to entertain soldiers, was ex- 
onerated here Friday (7) by a grand 
jury of charges that he stranded the 
girls here. •: i ; ..'.:.•: ; ';•■■' .> 

The agent. Whose name was not 
disclosed, said he had contracted for 
the girls, but. when they arrived 
they, were not the same girls as those 
in the pictures 'sent by ..the Chicago 
agency. He further testified that he 
paid the girls for three weeks work 
but had not paid the agent because 
she failed to send the girls for whom 
he had contracted. .;>«. 



I Gay-White Way I 

Continued fcom page ■ » 



Rat-surface type, with the dimen- 
sions of a stage-set. Signs will be 
"painted" . with lights instead of 
paint, with new lighting effects for 
each dimension. Lights will be soft 
instead of brilliant, to take the glare 
off. They'll be colored, in delicate 
pastel shades. The new lighting tech- 
nique will include black light or in- 
visible rays; .-translucent plastics 
filtering the light/ and masses o 
lamps to suggest size. Americans are 
impressed with size, says Leigh, and 
•future sighs will be fewer and big- 
ger. /Fluorescent instead of bulb 
lights. will supply Broadway's chief 
illumination. , 
•;- Leigh says the N. Y. World's Fair 
was a precedent-making step in de- 
sign and lighting, whose develop- 
ment was stopped by the war. Leigh, 
whose firm did a $2,000,000 business 
before the war, says that when the 
blackout came, he lost only one cus- 
tomer, others being content to keep 
their signs until the return of light. 
When the ban is lifte* Leigh's firm 
will turn on again with what they 
have, working out his new designs 
gradually with his clients. When the 
blackout came, most of Leigh's signs 
were covered over with painted sur- 
faces. -. v- -; ■ 

Leigh sees plenty of room for ex- 
pansion, mainly in roof-top space. 
He hopes the lighting ban is lifted 
as soon as possible after the Euro- 
pean angle of the war, is settled, as 
he looks on a lighted Broadway as 
a morale-building, psychological af- 
fair. 



Bar Queens Nitery 

From Ziegfeld Title 

A Queens, L. I., nightclub has been 
barred from . use of the words 
"Follies, and "Frolics" in connection 
with the name "Ziegfeld," according 
to a ruling by Supreme Court Justice 
Benjamin Schreiber last week (6) in 
New York. . 

Actress Billie, Burke, widow of 
Florenz Ziegfeld, and the Select Op- 
erating Corp.. (Shuberts). owri.ers of 
the name "Ziegfeld Follies" or 
"Frolics," were granted a temporary 
injunction restraining Harold Conk- 
lin. operator of The Boulevard, and 
De Lories Ziegfeld, an entertainer, 
from billing the club's entertain- 
ment policy as the "De Lories Zieg- 
feld Ice Frolics" or "Follies." 

Attorneys for the club's operator 
and. entertainer claimed the right to 
use the name Ziegfeld as the family 
name of one of the defendants. 

'The court held that "the evidence 
establishes clearly that- the name of 
the defendant, Ziegfeld, was not used 
Honestly.,, but rather for the purpose 
of misleading the public into believ- 
ing that the entertainment offered by 
the defendants was in some way 
connected with the famous "Ziegfeld 
Follies." -,' ' ' :''; . - 



NOW KNTKRTAININC. THIS BOYS 
IN Till! EUROPEAN THEATRE 
Ol OPERATIONS 




WILLIE SHORE 

Personal Mi»murem«mt: 

AL BORDE 



Versatility in Rhythm 

KEN 
KENNEDY 

On Tour for USO 
Overseas 



ROY DOUGLAS 

Different Ventriloquist 
CURRENTLY 5TH WEEK 
* : BAL TABARIN 
New York 



Henry Bstldridge is hew manager 
of the Skyway and Plantation Roof 
atop the Peabody Hotel, Memphis. 



TOP-NOTCH COLORED TALENT 

T.hPHtiiciit and musical talent ' rt f 
(-oelttail - I-ouhk-^s, Theatres, Nlgbt 
Cluha »nil .Ra-dioi 

Kntevtainment furnished for all oc- 
casions. •' -. 
Write! Phone or Wire 

Colored Kutlio Artists' Association 

THEATRICAL BOOKING AGENCY 

3458 S. Shite Sf , Chicago 
. Victory 7!»I7 



JUST RETURNED FROM CASSINO BATTLE FRONT! 
Comedy Stars of U.S.O. Camp Show's 

"FRONTLINE FOLLIES OF 1944" 

DICK M and J1ET EV1S 

LOEW S STATE. New York '.->■- July 13-1* 



MrocHon 
MARK UDDY (E«* mm* Wast) 



SAM KOIERTS (MMwnt) 



Wednesday, July 12, 1914 



USriety 



VAUDEVILLE 



Burlesque Loses Vet Showman 
As Izzy Herk Dies in N. Y. at 61 



. By ED BARRY 

almost-forgotten phase 



of 



'.:'<■ An 

show business — burlesque — last i 
\ week lost one of its pioneer show- 
men when Izzy Herk succumbed to a 
\ heart ailment in New York— He-was- 
.'' 61. ^'\-^ ; .:->v. '--V ..-' :..'.'{■./,'. 
In recent years identified with the 
legit field, through his management' 
, . of troupes for Frank McCoy, Herk 
achieved his greatest prominence as 
a producer and operator of burley 
shows for more than 30 years. He- 
had amassed . and lost several for- 
tunes in the interim, but reportedly 
died broke.: Long suffering from 
. heart ailment, his imprisonment for 
several months a couple of years 
agd, after a conviction for present- 
ing an • "indecent" show (."Wine, 
Women and Song") at the Ambassa- 
dor theatre, New York, is believed 
to have been a contributory factor 
to his failing health. 

Bom in Toledo, Herk got his early 
theatrical training by managing 
burlesque houses in that territory 
and later managing burlesque shows. 
He later formed a producing part- 
nership with Ed Beatty and for 
years the duo operated their own 
shows over the Western Wheel 
Burlesque Circuit, both amassing 
fortunes in show and theatre opera- 
-V. tions west of Chicago. . This was in 
- the early 1900s, when a three-cor- 
nered fight was being waged for 
burley supremacy by trie Western 
Wheel, Extended Wheel, also a 
western outfit, and the Empire Cir- 
cuit, which seemingly had the east 
tied up. . 

Plenty Pay Oirt . 
Burlesque was bringing plenty of 
pay dirt in those days, instead of 
dishing out dirt in its shows which 
later ruined that branch of show 
biz. The Stair 8c Havlin circuit, 
. which played the pop-priced melo- 
dramas and replicas of Broadway and 
other key-city shows, was beginning 
to wobble on its throne through the 
^tongrr-c o i npe tis h u f-Khrw-jfc--Er- 
langer, then the big-time theatre 
trust. '■ ■ •'."' I ' ' ' : .- :\ ■ 

The selling pitch in those days for 
the burleys .were real comics who 
could make 'em laugh, buxom primas 
with shapely underpinnings and gals 
in lights. Only line of debarkation 
between the Stair & Havlin friusicals 
< which included such names as Billy 
B. Van and Beaumont Sisters in 
"Patsy Boliver," George Sidney in 
"Busy Izzy," Williams & Walker in 
"In Dahomey" and the burlesque 
shows was that the former did not 
employ gags of double entendre be- 
cause it catered to family audiences. 
With the flop of the Stair & Havlin 
circuit it was inevitable that bur- 
lesque could come into its own by 
spending some more coin on produc- 
tion and talent that, would 'more than 
pay off in - returns of the mixed 
family trade instead of Strictly stag 
audiences their shows had been get. 
ting. 

Herk and Beatty saw this coming, 
especially Herk. They had ama.<sed 
sufficient coin to command respect. 
Consequently they trekked to New 
York after J. Herbert Mack and the 
late Sam S. Scribner aligned the best 
producers of the then -operating 
three wheels and organized the Co- 
lumbia Burlesque Circuit. The latter, 
circuit leased plot of -ground at 47th 
street and Seventh avenue upon 
which it- erected its ace house, the 
Columbia theatre (now Loew's May- 
fair). Mack and Scribner had 
<louble-barreled purpose for spotting 
in Broadway territory. By keeping 
shows clean and practically on a 
plane with the former S&H mufii- 



CAPPEUA: PATRICIA 

How Appearing at tfce 

ST. REGIS HOTEL 

NEW YORK 
.4 ml You Can See U s In 

The Universal Picture 

MOON OVER LAS VEGAS' 

end the Republic Picture 

'THE COWBOY AND THE 
SENORITA" 

At Yotir Neighborhood Theatre 

Music Corporation of America 



J 



cals, they had hoped to win respect 
from showgoers and the press. Up 
to now burlesque was seldom, if 
ever reviewed by the dailies. Critics 
had long since labelled it the illegiti- 
mate: child of show- biz,— r~ — ,'■ ■ ■ ' 

Got Shows Reviewed ' 

Mack and Scribner, via the late 
Fred McCloy, their publicist, finally 
sold the newspapers on idea that they 
were entitled to have shows re- 
viewed, pointing out the vast 
amounts of revenue that would be 
derived from their advertising. They 
only got a few of the critics, mostly 
on their summer run shows, but did 
get readers and- capsule reviews 
from drama editors. 

Herk hitched his wagon to the 
Columbia wheel. . He knew the 
racket from all angles. He continued 
to produce his shows and clean up 
financially. "> . . 

The Shuberts, after the fold of the 
Columbia wheel, became overloaded 
with play-or-pay contractees, mostly 
vaude headliners and teams which 
they had pacted for musicals that 
didn't materialize. There was sparse 
activity among the producer group 
which had swung over their way. 

Dead rentals on dark houses which 
Shuberts had leased in their heyday 
were also eating up plenty of the 
Shubert coin. They .had tried 
straight vaude to so-so returns. With 
folding of Columbia wheel, its pro- 
ducers- were virtually dispossessed 
frem show biz. They" didn't know 
any other field of show -biz. Herk 
became the answer to their prayer, 
and also Lee Shubert's. Practically 
overnight Consolidated Unit Circuit 
was' formed, with Herk fronting for 
Shubert. In short order he had 
aligned Barney Gerard, Jack Singer, 
Ed Daley, Jacobs & , Jermon, Hurtig 
& Seamon and other front-line 
Columbia producers as producers of 
units, many of them carrying the 
former burley titles. Producers were 
-to — hold — rein — en -production' costs, 
with cast payroll to be around $5,000 
and shows to be played on percent- 
a ee. ;';'- -'.>.:'--;'"----,'. - 

This looked like a great deal 
for the boys, who saw no other way 
out. Circuit was functioning scarcely 
a month when the. producers ac- 
cused the Shuberts of unloading 
some of their high-priced acts on 
them. "Your show needs strengthen- 
ing," was the way it was put to 
them, and before the producer Tcnew 
it he had inherited a $i;000 or $1,500 
act which he didn't want in the first 
place and which upped his nut so 
much that he couldn't break even. 
This sort of procedure riot only 
broke the producers, but Herk also 
through his having loaned the boys 
the coin to set up their shows. Herk 
took the rap for the flop of the cir- 
cuit. It made hjm a flock of enemies. 

. Kept Faith 

But Herk still had faith in bur- 
lesque. He mortgaged himself and 
founded the Mutual Burlesque Cir- 
cuit. Again he had to help the pro- 
ducers since all went to the cleaners 
on the circuit fiasco. Within the 
initial season of MBC, Herk learned 
that burlesque fans, still wanted 
rough shows. So he obliged with 
plenty of bumps and strip-teasing, 
naughty blackouts and stag jokes. 
Although Herk had placed a limit 
on the "dirt" stuff producers, and 
comics went beyond' it when on the 
road. Everybody made plenty of 
coin. Herk got another fortune of 
over $1,000,000. But the tide turned 
again, Police interference and other 
forms of censorship sounded death 
knell of the Mutual wheel. - Herk 
then . aligned with Abe Minsky in 
operation of stock burlesque at the 
Gaiety, (now Victoria), -N. Y. He. 
mopped up another bundle of coin 
until . Mayor La Guardia had bu r- 
lesque legislate/ out of New York. 

After that . he had yenned a flier, in 
iegit. and had planned to. star Margie 
Hart, burley .stripteuse, in . the : 
•'right" play if he could get; it. The 
result was the vauder, "Wine, 
Women and Song," "which did tre- 
mendous biz from opening at the 
Shuberts' Ambassador.. .-"But his pre- 
vious . connection wlih \ burlesque 
■proved his undoing, When biz was 
boft'iest in stepped, the', police. Herk 
blamed the pinch as outcome o'' per- 
sonal feud between him .and Paul 
Moss, lice a-ie commissioner. Herk wsj» 
arrested and convicted for having 
projected an indecent performance. 
■He served three months in the. work- 
house. The. Shuberts disclaimed 
responsibility though their license to 
operate the Ambassador was sus- 
pended. 



Benny Rubin Should 

Have Stood in Chi 

Benny Rubin, comedian who re- 
cently closed at Chicago in . "Let's 
Face It" revival, taking over former 
Danny Kaye role,, had been agented 
in Chi for -vaude or nitery dates and 
when none materialized hopped to 
New York for a week at Loew's 
State- last week. 

Monday (10), however, Chi agent 
wired that he had set him for the. 
•Chez— Pareer-but— he-would— have— to 
open July 13. Rubin okayed date. He'll 
close at the State, Wednesday night 
(12), grab the 11 o'clock rattler for 
Chi, which will/ bring him in on; 
time for opening Thursday night. 

AGVA Asks Easing 

American Guild of Variety Artists, 
through Matt Shelvey, national di- 
rector, arid Mort Rosenthal, national 
counsel, is pressing for a modifica- 
tion of the War Manpower Commis- 
sion's edict that all males, between 
ages of 18 and 45 be frozen in pres- 
ent non-essential occupations. New 
ruling became effective July 1. All 
in this Classification , wishing to 
change place of employment must 
first obtain a clearance from regional 
board of the WMC. 

Shelvey and Rosenthal have out- 
lined to the regional WMC what a 
strict adherence to this ruling would 
mean to performers and theatre op- 
erators, as well as nitery operators. 
They pointed out that an act would 
have to get special' clearance on 
every booking 

With such ramifications performers 
would be legalized "coast defenders," 
permitted- only to operate within 
their present areas, and even re- 
quired to get permission to change 
employers upon going from one date 
to another, since it would involve 
changing place of employment as 
well as changing employer. 

AGVA is seeking a modification 
wherein-as-long-as a performer re- 
mains in his own line Of business, 
the entertainment field, he should be 
free to travel without being subject 
to clearance required for workers in 
other fields. Regional board seemed 
in accord with special provision for 
performers. .'-.<•• 
-Same ruling "would affect legit 
shows somewhat, but not as bad as 
vaude. Shows probably could get 
clearances for entire troupes under 
clause of changing place of business 
when rotating a* show from* one city 
to another. AGVA, however, ex- 
pects answer on its petition this 
week end, confident it will be favor- 
able. ■ -* :: '.:."/ . v ',' .-' - 



Camp Shows Accept 138 Out of 2,122 
Given 0.0. in National Talent Hunt 



Saranac Lake 

By Happy Benway : 

, Saranac Lake, N. Y., July 11. 

Ruth Thompson won William Mor- 
ris award for General Science, 

Send birthday greetings to Flor- 
ence Cohen, Virginia Browne, Dr. 
William Stern. Muriel Scheedel, 
Nurse . Norman, all . at the. Will 
Rogers. 

Rogers was flooded with holiday 
weekend visitors, among them were 
Abe Cohen, ogling his frau Flor- 
ence; Jane and Ed McLean visiting 
sister Jordy: Frank Scheedel, Judge 
and Mrs. Grossinger, Artie Hirsch, 
Sonny Barkus, Carl Erbe visiting 
Harry Jackson, George Eaton, and 
Dr. Franceses Montana ex-Rogers 
medico in to ogle former patients. 

Betty Hoffman ( 20th -Fox) pro- 
moted from wheel chair routine to 
mild exercises 

Hazel Smith received O.K. to take 
in the holiday sports at. Lake Placid, 
her first time out of the sari, • .-'> ; 

Kay . Laus happy that she'Hsoori 
receive her go-home papers. 

Louis Goldshlag will receive his 
discharge papers August I. ''■ " 
; Victor King, composer, who has 
been doing bed routine since arrival, 
penciled in for an up routine soon.'.. 

Joe H. Klein back at the Rogers 
after a )0-day furlough, in New York. 

All records broken by the attend- 
ance of kiddies- at the William Mor- 
ris Memorial paTk on July^th. 

Write lo those who are ill. 



Johnny Thompson, currently sing- 
ing-emcee at Leon Eddie's, N. Y., 
I forced to postpone his opening at 
| Esquire Club, Montreal, -scheduled 
] foi; July' 17. until July 31, because of 
;-a two-week' holdover at Loon & 
Eddie's, "■• :'•' ' ■ ' 



Elias Sugarman, recently dis- 
charged frorh \he Army; has joined, 
the nitery department of Gcnef-al 

Amul; --'•"'.$ 



Dancer Sues Pitt Hotel 
For Injuries in Mishap 

' Pittsburgh, July 1 1. 

Beyei'ly" aayne, ol aance team of 
Bunny and Beverly, is filing damage 
suit against Webster Hall hotel here 
as result of knee injury received 
when she slipped and fell, at the 
swimming pool there. Several liga- 
ments were torn, forcing Miss Bay'ne 
out of the act, which has been at the 
Villa Madrid for couple of weeks; 

Physician told girl he didn't know j 
.when she'd be able to go back to I 
"work. Meantime, her partner, Bunriy j 
Howard, is carrying on at the- Villa 
Madrid alone. 



JOE LEWIS INTO CLEVE. 
MOUNDS; THROAT OK 

Joe E. Lewis will play his first 
engagement '' since h is recent t h roa t 
operation when he opens Aug.- 3 at 
the Mounds Club, Cleveland. 

Comedian's last nitery date was at 
the Copacabana, N. Y,, where he Was 
forced to pull out because of the ail- 
ment. ,./'-. :';•■;-. -'■".'"->: '• ■ ■{? 



Harlem Frolics, B'klyn, 
In Performer Pay Jam 

Harlem Frolics, Brooklyn nitery, 
had no show last week due to walk- 
out of its colored bill after manage- 
ment refused to liquidate salary 
claims of previous week — according 
to Eubie Harris, producer star of the 
all-Negro floor show. - i - 

Show had carried seven principals, 
eight chorines and six -piece music 
combo. Musikers had been paid. 
Since spot was not under jurisdiction 
of American Guild of Variety Artists, 
nor were the performers members 
of AGVA, Harrrs~satd~he~w' uuld lake 
salary claims to small claims court. 
The court doesn't function again" 
until September. 

Sol Newmeyer, operator of Frolics, 
claims temporary embarrassment was 
due to two of his partners deserting 
him after a siege of bad biz, with 
him holding the bag for rental and 
other bills. He said if given time he 
would settle claims. . 



BEERTS REPLACED IN K. Y. 

The Chocolateers replace the Berry 
Brothers beginning tonight (12) at 
the Cafe Zanzibar, N. Y. nitery. 

Latter team leaves for the Coast 
shortly to join lineup of "Star Time," 
Paul Small's vaude revue. 



Feeling that it has tapped a fresh . 
source of talent with satisfactory re- 
sults, USO-Camp Shows, has com- 
pleted, tabulating results of their 
natio n-wid e tal ent hu nt, held to fill 
Army heeds for entertainers here 
and overseas. Field directors held 
auditions in 27 major cities, June 4.9" 
to July 3, auditioning 2,122 acts and 
accepting 138 performers, ; tfr; 7<i, 
with 51 more acts rated possibilities. 
Camp Shows officials feel this per- 
centage is a good, average, since it's 
mostly acts not ordinarily going to 
USO offices for auditions. Officials 
also feel the talent search was a good 
idea, since it tapped a new source.; 
;., A large percentage of the acts, say 
officials, were amateurs, although 
the quality of those accepted was 
high. More than 50% were singers, 
12% , accompanists (accordionists, 
guitarists, etc.), 9% dancers, . and 
balance miscellaneous, running from 
contortionists and sharpshooters to 
Shakespeareans and poetry readers.. 
Officials were surprised that there 
were only 36 comedy acts and 11 
mimics. 

. . In; -cities where auditions were 
held, several pulled blanks. In St. 
Louis, 170 acts were auditioned; in 
Cincinnati, 100; in Kansas City. 67, 
with no one accepted in any of these 
Cities. Los Angeles auditioned 198 
acts, with only one accepted. With 
the standard-acts barrel touching 
bottom, as far as getting talent for 
USO-Camp Shows is concerned, offi- 
cials feel they've done a substantial 
job. this being one of the biggest 
talent hunts in show biz. 



ARENA MCKS. GROUPING 
TO PRESENT WET SHOW 

Los Angeles, July li. 

Arena Managers Assri., headed by 
John H. Harris, is formin g a new 
corporation to present "Water- 
Cades," a combined water'-and stage 
show, for a nationwide tour. Book- 
ings will be arranged at the annual 
Arena Managers' annual meeting in 
August in New York. 

Show is backed with $10,000 by 
each of the 15 managers with the as- 
surance of a minimum of two weeks 
at each arena. Chester Hale, produ- 
cer of "Ice-Capades," will handle the 
new show. 



i Riviera. St. I... Sold \ 

St. Louis, July II. I 
The Riviera, nitery, shuttered for 

the summer because of lack of air? j 

conditioning system, was. sold last! 

week by George Ogilvy to Jordan W. 

Chambers. . ; 

Chambers, a Negro, will probably j 

operate as a colored spot. 



HOT SOPHISTICATE 




TIMMIE ROGERS 

rAI.M K TIIKATKK. rirvrlanil, Olllu 

.'. '-; with COUNT B.ASIE 

■ Mutrrlol by SIW KI'M.KK 
Mrl.: WM. .MOHBI8 AUKNCT 



LOEW 

BOOKING 
AGE NC Y 



Of, 



38 



PfiRfflTY 



Wriliusilay. July 12, 1911 



Variety Bills 



WEEK OI JULY 16 



Numerals In cu(inecii«n tvilli bills lielow indicate opening day '•.'. »h»W. 
V wliellier full or unlit week. 



Stork Club 

liae ita; Oreh- 
ttuss Smith Orch 
Xiivern-nn-Green 
P. IwrraKaim Ore 
Victory Boys 
1,J - l 

,- Versailles 
Robert Fields .. 
LeBrmi & Campbell 
Florence- Leasing 



Betty Jane Smith 
Jeri Sulla ran 
Paul Duke ,. 
Ray Sinatra Ora 
Zanaiitar ■ ; 
Marva Y.011U • 

Berry Bf<" : 

Tina Tiller. n '. ' 
BUI Halle- 
trv Carroll 
Peewee :Wurfl.uc'ttii 




•JilCW VOKK city 
.-, Caiittnl. WJil 

Sammy Kaye, Ore .; 

B<'SS Si.S ■ 

Paul Wiiiolic.il 
, State (18* • 

S Kd iranla- 'tiros.- • 

Nil sli & KValiS : 

Lois- Aridre'.iva'.' ■ > .' 



itll.lho. Vine'-nt' ■ 
JM\f Yt.Md-Juli 

Ki'ii l.idvWsii.i 
■M MSIIINOTON 
Cuidtof ( I?;) . 
Valj!f!iti Monroe O. 
H.iiiiii Ilraysoil 
Jane sin ler '■-,'- 
Chester t'oU'liVir • 1 



■K ll.ixklnn.Oif 
Cunni BriyRs: 
Tiir.Rllvfl.Al «. t». ' 
Cttlmiieol'S" .. .' 
AVOONSOCKUT 



New Park (l«> 

It- ilj'cl ;Vta-i:l'Hl.s 

Ca,s,in ; 



Willi 
,1 ml v 

(Tu,. 




Paramount 



NEW YOKE CITY 



K»3V . YflltK CITY 
Paramount ( P! I 

Jerry Wit Id Bd • 
Perry Cn'.i.o. 
>:.illnnfln 
Ovfo. <( * 



CHICAGO 

i hicuso (I.) 



MIAMI 

-..(Mj nipia (Pt)-. 






ItOKTON 


Wnv. Olsn, :n 


(Sit; Is, 




KM) 


Kiily Muivra'i: 




Ai 


• l.\ man 


ore '. 


'-.'..-" («l . 




<•■• 


!:r siuoa 




Colifit.'' 'Basic.:. < 




l:i 


i» 1 niwonl 




I'llUlUtt: RnffCi 






«1) 




I'ai.nrsoil X- .ia 


• 1 son 


<:<■ 


tie Kllip: 


Ore- 


-Sill..- ,; ,',.l>ay.is. 




Ki 
|!e 


wards Si 

mvii &- y 

ilie Willi 


•> J :...«> 


1 « Oi l M ill 




I.;. 


Palace (IX- 


till 




'f:I'.KVK1 


AMI 


".Stali K(Minv.n 






Palace 


(IS) 


1 tnlo-ii n 'Si* 




Rc 


Chester 




.Tile Sli'} tavlv.* 




H 


Sllcrwoo 


1 Cti-.o 


< i 1*18.1 




IK 


rliw ft. 1 


'a is 


Rose'K 1 * .lloi 


Sic'sll o'e 




ALABAMA 
Mobile 
'.'■•'. J.yrlc (*-») 
H'.vv.khI Scanlii'fi 
llatlian 
Martin il't) 
Na.n«)iiy Uut Nip'f 



. Out ham 
Carolina (lt-la> 
\tr U'af Bj>v 
t.repnslmro 
National (1:11 
Sinrl; Clnb Seaiiilal 
Illicit I'ninl 



Aliliariutn Kesi. 

iVoai't La' Willinnia . 
lt.iii'i Dav 3 
J;. i>i. lie r'rahlilliv* 
Saiuly SaiitiiCcr Ore 
John KirUy ' Ore. , 
. Itilt'n Oa> VV » 
MUrei OHborl ^qfjt. 
.loannollly 
Cluilci uosoft 
tlcrnli 1 llraner 
Httrnld SVIWard'.: ■: 
Jacli llya.n 
C'lyarles Strickland 
.itimiiy Uurns .:*.. 
Biil Kclscy : 
ttay' no's Qaartett* 

islae An.tfel 
I'Mllic Ma.voli.off 
I teriiip n -(Hill t ibon 11 
Uiisc VMurpliy. .' 
aicriMfa .Mason 
KvQlyn Knight .:■..:' 
Sluurr Uo'.-s . 
(Safe Sot'lelJ 
(I'ptonitV 

I'.url . Ivrs ■ ■'• 

iriizc.i gcott . ; 

.1 ijnniy SavO' ■ 
I'lOiric llcyivontl Ore 
fafe S^m-tcty 
(l)owiiioun) 

hl-i .lames- ■ 

.losh vviiHc ::■ 

1 lOilnionil llnll Ore 
t'cior naWiit's 3 
. :<!aaino RliuHe 

Nina Tarasova 
JJi'nitri . .Ma.tvienUo 
l\.icltpll9S Kluularilt 
X Vcrallo Ballet .' 
\'lailimir IVuzarcv 
C. Ccilnlbnn Ore 
(OVUlle S'leoie 
tlarland Wilson 

Clilh IS 
Roy SioUley 
A'jfi'.a, Cur-ran''.'-" 
.Tei ry Bl.-ineliard . 
Ann Paitfe '. . . i 
Kila.ie, liord ''...,' 
K.utn Wyhn 
Marsha, Kent v '>'. 
rjnrrlon Andrews O 



M.-liilii c 
u In: 



Ore 



I .;> t. 
M ih 

I (.In. " , . 
.Molvilia.n;. ' .. ..'■', 
A I .Mclnnrs .; - 
Hainhl AliiniV 

Hold 1.1m olo .... 
4*nMg*>«>n '" -.JS 
s-» tlSStP-NiAllilo 
Clailys 'fell, . ; 
Mftieav .iliiiiA'ory . 
J'lric I'orrca Oil' 
Hotel -New Vorker 
Tool Paslor tire'- 
.Mar; .I.-i.'im .yen 
Mary .liine l..;j ivunn 
l'esK'i'-' AVlliKhl -.- ,' ' 
l:..l, Jlallalil 
Arnold Shod , 
Motel I'l'imyylviiMla 
l..es r.rowii .tn'e 
llnlei rirrre 
M erus ■ ■ '.'* 
Kljsu m l li * F'chlli) 

stanler .Meliri Ore. 
lintel riii/.a 

til lltOK'l 1 >'« ' ' '. 

r.f...'K i'.ui 
Bi.n .drain. Ore . 
Iloldl Knosevplt 

.lolnilli CooV Oil" 

llnlei Savoy rlarn 

Xaii: ■ ' 

Bolr Simon,. Ore .. ' 
llnlei M. ISrxi» 

Rreddy. -jjillur ,Orc 
.t'^'iieflii Vntricia 
Builoii's llirds 
Hnlnl Tmtt 
Vincent 1 t.o'icy. Ore. 

Ilolel «aldorf-A 
"Navicr Copai Ore - 
Marina • '- -.- 

llerm (i.los \V'»|S 3 
TJie ttai'isiVs 
■Miseha Bou Oic 
llnrrie,'*a« ; 

SlieU'ey Allien O.rc 
Boli in' Ba \ iel' .'•'.', ..'- 
Ilarners- * Hale 
Miir lloileyi hi'es. 
LMinel: Or c'li liei.!es. 

♦liinmy ' Kpllv'n 
Olcnda Hope 



BOOKING THE NATION'S LEADING INDEPENDENT 
VAUDEVILLE THEATRES 

EDWARD SHERMAN AGENCY 



NEW YORK 

PARAMOUNT BUILDINS 



BEVERLY HILLS. CAL 

CALIFORNIA BANK SLOG. 



Night Club Reviews 

Continued from page 

_ l it***. Pari'**. -I 'hi 

nient ivom show biz, and Maurice 
Rocco. wlio has really liii the 'bit!' 
time iii the. few '.short months since 
he.vwas playing in a small cocktail 
lounge here. 

Miss Green, with Pern Davenport 
at the piano, is better than ever, and 
quite generous iii her ottering, 'Oiien- 
ing with "I'm Jii.it Wild. About 
Hairy" she segues into "I'll Be See- 
ing. You" and then interpolates some 
-broad English, Russian, and Brook-' 
lynese into "Love, Love, Love." 
Clever . impressions of Colonua. 
Hepburn and Cantor are worked 
into "Ole Man Mose."'. ".Carmett 
Miranda" and a cute number called 
'Something Old. Something New" 
with an impression of Fannie Briee 
winds up her stint. A solid hit. 

Rocco works the customers up to 
enthusiastic form \Vith his unusual, 
pianistics. He does things to "Be- 
gin, the Begiiine," "G-I Jive" aiid his 
boogie-woogie versi-tiir. of "D6nkey 
Serencde." "St. Louis Blues" and 
"Darktown Strutter's Ball." the last 
done: with a radium effect, is some- 
thing to write, home about. The cus- 
tomers love it and stud him oil' a 
hit.-;,' ..... ,- :'vVy" " -- -.. 

Barbara Perry, blonde eyeftill. 
contribs her sock taps to "Oil What, 
a Beautiful Morning." and "In a 
Country Garden" adding impressive 
ballet- leaps and turns. Well re- 
ceived. Cord ay & Triano. holdovers, 
repeat ' their : success : of, previous 
show with artistically executed ball- 
room, rhumba and folk dance rou- 
tines, to register bit}. -. . / 

The Chez Paree ' Adorables, 
directed by , Olive Bernard, seen in 
"Jangled Nerves" and a. Hawaiian 
number both okay, but the "Fall of 
Rome" routine just isn't night club' 
fare. Gay Claridge and his Orch. 
continue to dish out nifty dance 
rhythms, with Claridge a capable 
emceo. Che?. Paree Rhumba band, 
with vocals by Lucio' Garcia, fill in 
during intermissions. A/org, 



Literati 



99 Entries In Metro Contest " 

Total of 99 books have been re- 
ceived for consideration in the initial 
Metro annual novel award, entries 
having closed July 7. Three judges 
in the contest expected to have 
picked a winner by Aug. 15. author 
of winning novel to get a minimum 
award of $125,000. with maximum of 
$175,000 contingent on the book's 
sales, The 99 novels are scheduled 
lor publication between Aug. 15 and 
July, 1945, by more than 40 leading 
publishers. 

The publisher of the winning novel 
gets $25,000 on publication, Metio 
acquires: film and allied rights to 
the book, -•■■'':■,. .. 



.."' HuntHvllle 
(.rand Oitrlo) 
^.aUKhly But Kiee 
»'I,ORll>.\ 
VnllnliaktiiT 
State (II » ; 

H'lvood St-anties 

rami ma City 
Itltr. (8) 

B'iva\ Broiiiles . 
NOKTII C.AKOI.INA 

( OIH'OI'll 

f'alitirru* (71 
>ir War Bev 
Charlotte 
ISroadnay itt4!l 

Air W.i c Be i 



raranioutil (I'M 
Stork linli s.-aiulais 
lliekor.i . 
Center (BY 
Air M ao iici :. 
Kaleittli 
Slate (14-15* 
Silftr.lt < 'lull Scandals 
*ntli«bur,v 
Htale : (.11 
Air \Yiif Rev 
A\ ilioWiKion 
' <'nrolina (»-S» 
XiuiKiuy ttiu X'iee 
.. AViiMon-Sateni 
State (P!Y 
. Slorli Chit. ,S..alkliil> 



Warner 



KKW YORK CITV 
»t>H«il (14) 

VijU'eiit..J.t>i».eK Ore 

'J'lic I'ilfluiion 

B Piltireo .(;• (.'harlo 

(T) 

I.ouis Prima Ore 
'rlie t'ont nines 

Jtoll Beri 
Phil Pet,-!, n ': -. 
I'llll ADIvl.I'MlA 
Harle (14) 

fJlcn Cray Ore 
3'alrieia .Morlson" ■ 
Terry ; T.eivis 
Can- Bins 

. (7) 
Earl .Hines Ore . 



Louise liciii-pi-a. 
Bed Curlei' 
i '/.elijiyi-,. 

« AMIIX.TIIX 
Barle (III 

I'.M'.l i'l ICS 

tjaidl'ejd S.i in 

The Vi.iVt'ttiMes.-' 



A I I 



.111 



l-hleeii: ItHioj 

(!) 
Rnxyeiles 
Holorcz Kvu 
The I'iLchni, 
Kveri.it tVos 
Milccii Bitie 



KKW YOKK CITV 
.>lu«ie Hall (l::i 

.Itnie (-Wrest : 
Buss, H ■& itenfa . 
HeJlhiH Jlosai. 
'. Budollili Ivrotli-.r 
-ttoxy (I !) 

llllliC .KIliUB It'll: .£'!'(' 

lilta l.ouan . .... . 

Kiidiiie- tiae 

liar Mi 

Jerry 1-,'sier 

Apollo (111 

Itai V's Anders 
I.OMi ISf.AMI 
.lama iia (IH-IC.) 

Ri«o|..tu", "Bros. -"' . 

Slult & Art Caw* 

Cien Fioren/. *; 

.(.Tiro to lilll . ', 
(TO- IS) 
- Art & Pniiln Sta -i; 

Judv ICellv 

'Jed CI aire . •'. ' . . 

Michael chinif-s ■ 

ralmcro's -('iilitu,:s. 
• ATI. VXTIC CIT\ • 
lluniiil's Pier .(Ml 

G Wliite's Scandals 

(icoiBle Auld 'ttre 

.steel Pier (|,V1t(l 
■Wilt .Brltlon' 11 1 1 . 

rrankio On'rle Ore 

(Iti udaiultll Bros 

Coco, Stele I'Mdi 

.1 WarriiiKion (arc ; 

Ynat's Old Tlliie.-^. 

Ben Beri 

nAjvriMOR*: 

Hlppnilroine (Pi) 

p. I' fanks '* Janice 
•Tune Lorraine 
Aunt Jemima 



Mo e.-, Ains'to'ttPlhi 

- J.Manmuil hrns 

Slate <l:(,|,-,) 

Al'lol'I'S lOniN . 
•Hl"i "Ijlllwit 
Youi^ .V K : 1 , 

; i .tt ii,-. sis-' 
> . « v>ii)i:\ 

Towers (I I. Iff) 

l.an'.i iV l.i no 
Mai... I.„li. Kins- '.-' 

- M.isiio — 



1,'rankie Froeba- Ore 
Club 111 

Franliioltyera 
Pal KarrinKton 
laclt Sharkey 

rrof" Adductt 
Bob. Trarey' '■■ 
Hilda Tayinr 
Pea-fty O'Neill 
Mario McCnll . 
Anita f'.liandler '- 
Beii". Tracy "' . 
Benny Martini Ore 

Club 1-1-3 
Rosier Stearns 

(npueabana 
Bert AVheelcr . 
i'a nl JJotiBhis 
1 lolorea Clroy : 
T'innie'o Tlenicy 
Y.lotl D'eYrnhs ■- 
lltiiln Bali . 
I"ec ,'J'nrnell 
Shcii fielda Ore 
. rriinli Marti Bd 
Coo Rouge 
nick Wilson .Orch 
B Bizony . RtiHenible 
Hiantoitil nnrseslloe 
.Bob Hall . ,• ; 
t a 1'ierrc * . ,\ 
l.'.ianli Titisa 
Berman llyda St Co 
Hazel Mnnfrean 4 
Maiu'la Dalo 
.feci I T,e\v.itt ,. ; : 
Clrirla TieRoy 
Hilly Dunks -•: 



Jeanne. Lynn* 
Jo Ann Collier . 
Moya -'(Iffftiyfl ■ . , ■ ' 
Koherlo * Aida 
Job n Bpckwood 
Bettei* ■ 

ltosija . 

SI ' Ilia ret O ray V 
Virftjiiia l-.'ail 
Carler & Jioan 
Jo« Cipelhy (ire ■ 

t.ti f'anita 
flleta (.imi.os 
B P.eiln 
.Mat'i lee Kcliols 
Jlnraelo' &■ .Hilda 
Marliiio Uliuioliii Cd 

I atio Otiurtet 
niosa Cosiell., 
Cross £ lliiiiii 
Ituye *. X'aldi 
Winl Walsli ;-•.'. . 
l.atbron'ifr.lVe' . 
.Mazzone » A hli, dt 
11 Sylvan Sextette 
.('arol Kli'tit 
Bean Brainnteln 
Folic At.il 
Don MeCran'e Ore 
.lose feiez. t>i.v 

I a Vie Parisicnne 
l.nba Miiltua' 



Tavern lloom. f 'hi 

(BISMARCK HOTEL) 

"."•-'. Chicago, June 27. 

Allan Kune Orch. (8>. Ltidmillci 
Mis Stotliord, Mary Ellen , Dunieh, 
Wiinivium $1.50-$2. 



IV 



Havoh'l KonviHfl 
Bill tioftilfu . 

I .eon .1 r.ddie'a 

Wendy Bishop 

ddie Davis . : ..• 



BEN BERI 

strand: NY. 
NOW 

Mat. EDDIE SMITH 



'i I lr 
(I 



.... IIAKTI 1)K|> 
Stat.' (I I - Hi) 

Jtiry i\inuc'.i ..( ire 
The iCcmni v,i , '■' 
Bddic White ;•"■", 

Mot'O r\ VllCOlietli 

IMIIANAI'OI IS 

lirele ( Hi) . • 

Ozzie Nelson Ore ■ ■ 
UiirrW nitirard •• 
Uatria'.* Shore ' 
West ,i- LexltiB 
lallds;i.\ , I. ,v- B 

i'llll Ai>i:i rtii v 

.Carman (l:f). 
P.io * Ithn 
Hay , AlaClell 
(..add l.i on 
r. Ham nets 

Sl'ltlM.I II I 11 
I ourl Si|. (Ilt-.|(i.l 

J.a PI Mantie.'a 

l-Mdi- Maii-nn 

Ai r P:i nla Si aru • 

Joy tier & I'oslet'' 

Moore & Berxli 

T Tlun n *■ Itobe Is 

VVASIHN(iT<»N 
llounr.t (Ii!) 



l-'our Kbse ituds 
Hill yucntineyer 
Mitchell Bi'fjlher 
.Miihael Hdnards 
.Milt, ttertli. .1 
V incent TraVera Ore 
iVwlcJi,. Village Inn 
Kvaii'Twins ■' 
Fred Kncal, - 

The Har'efiuln 
liortjv. Mart'lti.-- 
Buiily Pcmileton 
MatKa ','• ■■'--,'.-:" 
PIskoT & White 
Kalinin's Orel)' 
Hotel Astor 
'I'oiimiy Tucker Ore 
l.i.uis I'rinia On" 

Ilolel Belmont 
riaza '■ 
((Haas Hat) 
1'ie .Vlo'rtinier: 
ttnVrlin ' & Belinet t 
\\ httev itoberta. 
The tlay^ies: 
Horoiiiy Sliay 
fillifimtir .filvla 
laiisoli lie Ore 
llnlei Cbnimofldre 
Bold Itattblirn ' 
Hotel nixie 
(ieorwJe l.opez. Ore. 

Ilolel - lallson 
Chris ('ross Ore 
Hotel l.sset lloilfle 
Harold Stern (ICC 

Hotel Islington 



•Jrillon 

Trio ■ ■' 
&: Moore 



niei 



soil .- 



Sherri' 
Cordov 
I i f. i.M a 
.loajii. .Sm, 
Jdiiiitiy Thoii'l 
Lou Marlf.n On:- 

Alonte CdivUi 
Diel; (Jaspai re Ore 
F.lavng tlimie 
P.lllpli Koigtis Bll 
Nlnn Cfil*. . 

old Itouinanlan 
fialpii l'ieUlei 
Harriot'' ".- '..v' 
Vera Nlva 
Murray While ■•'. 
Sadio Baiii.a . 
J oo I. a Porte Oro '.■' 

Queen Mary 
Naya Ctiecia ■-.- 
Caslaino'& Barry ■' -. 
'tiny. .Martin Girl* 
Pat Clarion ■ 
Ivviiig Conn Ore 
Peter-Rotunda 13d. 

Rogern Corner 
Itariiy Lefcourt Ore 
Clark's tjatt'aiiarts 
Kulliiil -: .;.' 
tiarolcl Green ■' 
Harry lieser 4 
Xovelan'es 
Sig Schal'^ Ore 

Sjj»lr>*a Ko»r 
snh-y. 

Waller IJIieraca 
Fred Keating . 



' 'In Allan Kane's band this room 
has just, the hypo needed to eh'aiiye 
the atmosphere from its previous 
sedateness to the *happy-go-luck/ in- 
formal air that now prev.l ils. And 
the customers are happier too. Kane 
combines comedy arid clowning with 
expert musicianship, a talent ac- 
quired years ago whep !'C. was one ot 
the first band, leading enioe.os in . the 
old Paul Ash stage band policy days. 

Band, though small, is: well bal- 
anced and is very entertain ing in it- 
self. Besides providing exceliert 
dance rhythms the group backs Kane 
in some tricky fiddling of "Stardust" 
and dishes out some nifty, band 
novelties among which an arrange- 
ment of "God Bless America." 

Ludmilla, former femme memoer 
of the Ros.silianos, does a tiu'nhjc cf 
lively routines including neat steps 
to "Swahee River," "Tiger Rag" and 
"Strip Polka" and a Polish folk 
dance. Her graceful -manner and 
spirited execution merit heavy ap- 
plause. - - v • - 

Iris Stothard, statue.-que blonde 
soprano, pipes such tunes as "When 
Day Is Done," "I'll Be Seeing You," 
"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," an Okla- 
homa medley and "Lei's Sing About 
Suzie" and scores. An attractive per- 
sonality with, voice to match. 

Between shows Mary Ellen Daniels. 
:ancl her accordion, manages to get 
the customers' voices oiled. up w ith a 
community sing. - ■ Morg. 

>>♦♦♦♦»»♦»♦♦♦»♦»>, ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ » 

:: N, Y. Nitery Followup I 
• » ♦ . ♦ .' ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 

"Vhile essentially the same show 
that opened about a month ago at 
the Gl«ss Hat.(Belmont-Plaza hotel. 
N. Y.). two new acts and a inale em- 
cee brighten current- revue. Comely 
line of girls continues clicking in 
three production numbers. Henny 
Nadell (New Acts), comedian, and 
The Hartne.lls (New Acts > are the 
added turngj- •.'; : 

Lou Perry is. m.c.ing and stepping 
up the pace considerably. Preyiously 
a ft'mme handled. Payson Re or- 
chestra fits nicely into this room 
while Nino's combo is holdover, as is 
Dorothy Shay, warbler of pop tunes. 
Revue still leans heavily op the 
femme production numbers, with the 
male beauty contest still wowing 'em 
for laughs. . ■ .' Wear. 



City Rooms" New Fates. : . 

.... Interesting situation is. developing 
in newspaper city rooms because of 
loss of manpower to war and defense 
plants. Older men (30 to 45) with 
long-time yen to write are, giving up 
business and professional jobs to be- 
come reporters and rewrite men now 
that the door is open. One" Philadel- 
phia sheet has two college profs, a 
lawyer, stock broker, high-school 
teacher and food manufacturer qn 
its city staff, all hired' within the past 
year.: The Woonsocket. R, I.. Call is 
reported to have hired an ex-bar- 
tender as reporter. 

Situation is typical of fields in 
which many have, in 'normal' years.-, 
tried to gain a foothold but have 
failed because of a lack of. oppor- 
lut ity. ;, ! ,:, •'•'.• ': ' '.'' " ; -.'/-.. ■ ■ 

Small-town sheets are especially 
feeling the loss of experienced men, 
some being lured to: N. Y.. dailies by 
prospects of better work and future 
advancement. Situation jn N. Y. city 
rooms with these out-of-town re- 
placements is belter, but not good. 
Government agencies like OWI are 
getting their men. But newsprint 
cuts, shorter new's stories and fea- 
tures, less local news coverage be- 
cause of increased war news wired 
in, have offset the drain of men. 
Losses' aren't being, replaced in full, 
one man being hired for three who 
'eave. ' '■:: .'. ■ '..]'_ '"-."■ 

N. Y. Daily News, which has a 
small city room stall', has lost only 
a few rewrite men in recent months 
and has replaced with one or two 
men from out-of-town. N, Y. World- 
Telly hasn't lost rewrite men so 
much to the draft lately as to better- 
paying defense industries outside, 
losses being replaced by older men 
beiiig called back from retirement 
and by out-of-towners. 

N. Y. Times, always with a big 
staff,; hasn't felt its -few; losses, re- 
placing with one or two men from 
in-towrt sheets, Its recent defections 
have been to OWI and to the Herald- 
Trib, Trib, which had big losses to 
the draft, is said to be trying to build 
up a new staff of young men by raid- 
ing other in-town sheets! 



lijlali Bahlthead, Michael Todd, Serge 
Iiotissevitzky, Clifton Fadimaii, Ben- 
nett Cerf, Ernest Trtiex. Thomas 
Hart Benton and Robert Flahertv. 



Presidential Sweepstakes Pom 
An informal pool oil the Presiden- 
tial sweetstak.es is being conducted 
at the Capttol. On the first 75 
chances taken at $1 per throw, 59 
picked President Roosevelt to win. 
Those 16 who picked' Thomas E 
Dewey, the. G.O.P. nominee, are 
mostly those who 'figure the Repub- 
licans will control the next Congtets. 

Among the entries were 11 news- 
papermen who have watched Con- 
gress from the Senate and House 
press galleries. They predict Dewey's 
defeat because ot his stand on the 
soldier vote, and because of t)ie in- 
flationary planks in the platform 
adopted at Chicago, 



Army Papers' Post-War Influence 

! Army service papers and journal- 
ists will have a strong influence on 
post-war newspapers, according to 

! Franklin C. Banner. Pennsylvania 
Slate College journalism head, who 
has made a survey of camp sheels. 
Changes to tabloid size will be com- 
mon, he says. 

"The light, informal style of writ- 
ing, the preponderance of human in- 
terest stories, the stress on illustra- 
tions and interesting makeup, as well 
as the effort to print large numbers 
of names, are all familiar devices 
which might profitably be more 
widely used in the daily press," Ban- 
ner adds, " . :'■'• -.' '•'! : .' : --'.'.'-..'-. v .. 



Yank's Rome H. Q. 

Yank, the Army weekly, has 
moved the editorial offices of its Eu- 
ropean- edition to Rome, to keep .up 
with the American troops. Printing 
plant will sliU remain in Naples, 
liowevetv The European is the 14th> 
and latest, edition, Of the GI weekly. 

Sgt: Ben Schnall, staff photogra- 
pher on Yank, has a four-page comic 
pholo-history of a GI's career in the 
Army in the June issue of U, S. 
Camera, Schnall writing.' the verse 
captions that accompanies each 
photo. '-. : '::}■"[ ";'-..'"". -:''^', ' 



Phillv Record's GI Edition 

Philadelphia Record is issuing an 
overseas edilion for soldiers called 
"G-I Extra.'' ail eight-page paper, 
8 l 2 x U inches, with four pages for 
hews..:.:. .-r"--.' -.,'. ; ,-V'.;-..;- 

First . issue,' this 'week.-; carries its 
"Letter .Front Home" feature, a di- 
gest of local news which has been 
running in its Saturday editions for 
months; sports and special home 
events; and four pages of comics. 



H-T Drops Dine, Dance Column 

N. Y. Herald Tribune has discott- 
tihued 'Robert W. Dana's dining and 
dancing column, a feature of the 
sheet during the last six years. 
Column, .which had appeared twice 
weekly, was dropped Friday (7>. 

Decision to eliminate it was moti- 
vated by Trib's space stringency. « 
fact which outweighed the nitery ad- 
ertising which, the column /attracted. 
Dana will be retained by the paper 
and will be switched to the city desk. 



Pageant's Ads— Maybe . 

Hillman Publications' new Pageant 
is aiming for 500,000 first edition. 
Digest-size monthly may accept ad- 
vertising, which is a departure for 
digest mags. "V, ■■, 

Eugene Lyons is editing, having 
left the American Mercury editor- 
ship (pc the new- venture. '. .../' , 



Bowery nightclub, Detroit, absorb- 
ing the Federal cabaret taxi 



Dulton, Itamlom House Contests 

E. P. Dutton and Co, has .opened 
its second Lewis arid Clark contest 
for a book by a Northwest, author. 
Latter must be from Washington. 
Oregon, Idaho, Montana or Alaska, 
Both fiction and non-fiction eligible! 
with cash award of - $2,500 against 
royalties to the wanner. Contest will 
close June 1, 1945. 

Random House also announces a 
prize contest for the best book on the 
general subject of the . rettirn and 
readjustment to civilian life, open 
to present and discharged members 
of the armed forces/ Prize is $2,500, 
over and above normal royalties. 
Can be fiction or. non, with closing 
date May 31, 1945. 



- ' Cultural Group Backs FDR 

A group Of leaders in cultural 
fields are forming an Independent 
Voters Committee of Artists, Writers 
and Scientists to work for re-elec- 
tion of Pres.- Roosevelt. Sponsors al- 
ready include Jo Davidson, Van 
Wyck Brooks, Norman Corwin, 
Helen Keller, -Russel Crouse* How- 
ard Lindsay, Ethel Barrymove, Tal- 



.' ; >.' CHATTER . / 

Pictorial Review, Hearst Sunday 
newspapers supplement, goes tabloid 
Aug. 6. - 

Koni-ad Heiden summering at Cape 
Cod; ''where. he will do a new book oo 
the Hitler gang, . 

iCol. Robert Lee Scott turned in the 
last chapter of his war tome, 
"Damned to Glory." 

Donald Wayne editing Thomas 
Wolfe's "Look Homeward, Angel" 
for overseas editions. .. ' 

Lloyd Nolan, who was a .' reporter' . 
before he became an actor, writing a 
novel of early California days. ,'. .'/.,, 
: Mercedes Marlowe, tennis champ ; 
before she became a singer, finished 
a book, "Tennis Is My Nemesis.", -.:. 
I Emile Gattvreau's history of 
American air power being brought 
out in the fall by Dutton. It's called 
"The Wild Blue Yonder." 

SatevepoSt's famed "lucky timing." 
for once, didn't jell with this week's 
flamboyant circus cover, in view of 
the Hartford fire disaster. 
•Jimmy Starr, Hollywood column- 
ist, has sold condensation of In? 
novel. "The Corpse Came C.O.D.." 
lo Liberty mag. Will be published 
Sept. 23. 

, Lewis Gannett, the N, Y. Herald- 
Trib's book crick, going abroad lor' 
some •.War 'corresponding for his pa- 
per. Staff members will sub for him 
while he is away. 

William B. Ziff . still has his books 
published by other than his own flrm. 
Corowner of Ziff-Davis will have his 
new one. "The Gentlemen Talk of 
Peace," brought out by Duell, Sloan 
& Peai'ce. ,•" ■ ' -V- . . " 

Cpl. Bill Alcine. combat-corre- 
spondent for Yank's Australian edi- 
tion, and former "Daily Variety 
itiuggi now' back safely, in Aus- 
tralia after five months active serv- 
ice in New Guinea, under fire, wife, 
is former Marcia Crocker, with War- 
ners publicity dept. in Hollywood. 



Wc<lncsrtay, July 12,191* 



HOUSE REVIEWS 39 



Oriental, Chi 

Chicago, J idyl: 
Duncan Sis. (2), Billy Vine, 
Sliirfcj/' Dennis, 3 Iviinows, The Ap- 
pietons. (3); 'Jam Session' (Col). 

Current bill is straight vaude: and 
customers are finding it a welcome 
relief from the steady diet of band 
shows week after week. . Billy Vine, 
fresh from a run at the Latin Quar- 
ter is emceeing the show and keep- 
ing it nicely paced, 

Duncan Sisters headline and close 
show, Their harmonizing on "I 
Love You," "Bye Bye Blackbird" and 
•■Remember" still rates highly and 
Rosette's Topsy antics are very 
limiiy. Gals have ldded an impres- 
sion in song of King Carol and 
Madome Lupescu and Rosetta's vio- 
lin bit with pit leader Ray Lang 
gets plenty of laughs. The. combo 
lands them solidly for top returns. 

Three Ivanows . open with bril- 
liant acrobatics, combining expert 
bar work with aerial catches and, 
somersaults. One of men works in 
comedy garb for laughs and woman 
contributes cartwheels and spins. 
Clicked. Shirley Dennis, pert and 
peppy songstress, puis over "San 
Fernando Valley," "Shoo Shoo 
Baby." "Gonna Get Lit Up" and 
• Man to Pin Up My Pan" to heavy 
ppplause. A good looker, she knows 
how to sell her songs for tig re- 
turns.- The Appletons, man and two 
women, thrill with Apache dancing, 
unusual tumbling, knife throwing 
jmd knockabout stuff to register 
"big, -": >" ■ ■ ".•.'■'"•-" .. 

Billv Vine, a glib gabster, dishes 
out a,funny line of chatter including 
his draft board experiences, a broad 
caricature of Sinatra'.; singing; an 
impression of Charles Laiighton and 
a very funny impersonation of a 
drunk with a crying jag, celebrating 
his pal's marriage. A hit. Morg. 

Hipp, Balto 

Baltimore, July 9; 
Bert Nagle ft Hiljo, Crosby Sis. 
i2). Gene Baylos, Bob Ellis, Coco, 
Sieve k Eddy, Felice Iula and House 
Orch (12); "Once Upon a Time" 
i Col) (2nd u>?c). 

New stage layout to accommodate 
h.o. of film ("Once Upon a Time") 
plays smoothly. Paced by Gene 
Baylos. flip emcee with material 

: leminihcent of all the w.k. floor 
pilots, setup opens well with Bert 
Nagel and Hilja in their standard, 
cat 'flirtation and control aero 

. Makr-s lor good novelty. 

Deuce is allotted to Bob Ellis, con- 
ductor of a.m. "Around the Break- 
fast Table" over WBAL locally and 
now associated with Coast Guard 
Port Security enlistment promotion. 
A plug for the latter effort, stint is 
nevertheless packed with solid en- 
tertainment and appeal. Nice ap- 
pearing lad. working in uniform and 
possessed of highly effective vocal 
capacity he accompanies self on 
electric organ and piano for very 
solid returns. Does "Time On My 
Hands," "Embraceable You" and a 
swingv version of "Dinah," encoring 
with 'Til Be Seeing Yfiu" to good 
returns 

Crosby Sisters follow with har- 
mony singing and clowning. Comic 
member play^afiuitar and has a 
definite feel loPTaughs, Does im- 
pressions of Joari Davis, Colonna and 
The Ink Spots between arrange- 
ments of "I Want My Mamma" and 
"Donkey Serenade." Had to beg off. 

Baylos takes hold for some ex- 
tended gagging all of which regis- 
ters well and builds to a finish with 
a violin bit highlighted with busi- 
ness a la Berle's swish routine. 
Stacks, up as good as any of them 
around today in vaude or niteries. 
. Next are Coco, Steve & Eddy, trio of 
neatly dressed hand to hand Work- 
ers who interpolate some comedy 
into their punchy routine. ':. Three- 
high catch from a teelerbbard • is. ' a 
good sock. : 
Biz okay. ' Burm. 



Mary Lee Carrol then takes oVer for 
vocals in nice style of "I'll Get. By;" 
"Love, Love" and "San Fernando 
Valley", Vera and her violin scores 



Slate, .>'. V. 

The Drakes (3). Dorothy Donegan, 
3 Swijls, Lionel Kaye, Gracie Bar- 
rie, Benny Rubin, Ruby Zuterling's 



tL ffiSS, o' [».&*■' Orch; ^Sensations of 1945" 



and the vioiin section goes all out in 
"Holiday for Strings." 

In opener Cleo Florc-nz has a nice 
routine and gives her puppets per- 
sonality with some clever imper- 
sonations. Best of group are Jimmy 
Durante,. Mae West, Carmen 
Miranda and Bette Davis. 

Watson Sisters, Kitty and Fanny, 
register with their routine of patter 
and songs, 

Show stopper is 'Danny Drayson. 
He has a nice line of patter 
and hi:, dancing is "■ coHjica.1, garner- 
ing laUgh's and applause. Had to 
beg off. Andy. 

Downtown, Detroit 

Detroit. July 9. 
Bobbj; Sherwood Orch (16) toit'l 
Gail Lundis. Skylarks i4i.; 
ter, Kit' if Murray, Willie 
Hector & Pols, ,■ Olympics;.' 
night Sweetheart" i Rep). 



tUA) reviewed in 
21. '44. '.' 



'Variety," June 



Roches- 
Kouen, 
"Good- 



A gravel-voiced comic and a 
brassy- sounding band are register 



One of the longest shows put On 
at this vaude house (77 minutes), 
current layout is a smooth melange 
of entertainment that rates a bow 
to booker Jes.se Kaye. . Headliners 
Benny Rubin and Gracie Barrie lie 
up things neatly in; the' comedy, and 
song departments respectively. Rubin, 
whose /skilled emceeing paces the. 
whole show, clicks solidly through- 
out with gags done straight and in 
dialect.: A comedy tap routine and 
his patter With Miss Barrie all add 
up To appreciative returns.. : ': '■■?: 
Gracie Barrie (New.Acts), is socko 
as a solo, sans her. band. *.;'■ 
Three Swifts- do their standard 
juggling lor the usual good results. 
The Drakes, Dorothy Donegan, and 
Lionel Kaye, all under New Acts. 



his talent. Opener is "Begin the 
Beguine," followed by "Diane," 
'Til Get By," "Martha," from the 
opera, •'Alouette," and a sock de- 
livery of "Eli Eli." 

Show opens with the Roberts Sis- 
ters ft White, three femme tapsters 
who do their standard footwork 
atop a small, portable platform. 
Arthur Blake conies on for excel- 
lently-received impersonations of 
name personalities, covering Frank 
Morgan, Billie Burke, Charle" 



New Acts 



HENNY N A DELL 
Mimic -.'■■■-.• 
11 Mins. ■:■:■:','■" :.:'■'■'*■.:■. 

Glass Hat, Belmont-Plaza, N. Y. 

Henny .Nadell, recently given an 
Army medical discharge, has suffi- 
cient innate ability to catch on once 
Laughton, Dorothy Lamour, . James he gets his routine, straightened out. 

Ctaiimpt . Wain Wpnhum folmnn. ! v„..',u- — ~ e.--., ...-j-.^' 



Stewart, Kate Hepburn. Colman. 
Bette Davis, and Eleanor Roosevelt. 
The Olefins (3) are smooth acro- 



Karle, IMiilly 

. ; : v Philadelphia, July 7. 
Earl'Hlnes Orch (16) .with Betty 



ng well at this new house which is Roche. Jesse Perry, Louise Bearers 



using a versatile lineup on its stage 
attractions. '.""."-'.' 

While a little slow on the takeoff, 
Rochester gabs about his famous 
boss and the overseas touring before 
hitting his stride by teaming up for 
plenty of laughs with Kitty Murray, 
who sings "Chewing Gum Men*' and 
joins Rochester in a jitterbug finale. 
Rochester also cues on Willie Koyen, 
who contributes crisp tap routines. 

The band itself, on the boisterous 
side and pleasing to , the bobby- 
soxers except w hen i t d rowns out 
the vocalists, gives plenty of bouncie 
to "The Elk's Parade," "Shehera- 
zade," and "It Could Happen to 
You," on which Sherwood takes the 
vocals. He's better on the trumpet 
than with the warbling. Both Miss 
Landis. with "Long Ago and Far 
Away " and "I'll Be Seeing You" and 
the Skylarks, mixed quartet, with 
"Salt Water Cowboy" and "Joshua 
Fit de Battle of Jericho," register 

With plenty of jive and laughs the 
show rounds out with Hector ft Pal9, 
well flavored with- canine comedy, 
and the Olympics, two girls better 
than average in acrobatics. Pool. 

Capitol, Wash. 

•Washington, July 9. 
Rojno Vincent, Blister Shaver & 
Midgets, Ken Ddvidip'i ft'John Scott, 
Edwards Bros. (3). Lynn Aflispn, 
Sam Jack Kaufman's House Orch; 
-Eve' of St. Mark" (20th), : 



Youth possesses a first-rate voice 
which he . uses in. imitating such 
celebs as Jolson, Jessel, Richman and 
bats whose act gets a big hand for • others. His original takeoff on a 
difficult lifts and balancing by the , Broadway character being asked to 
two males and femmc. Six Willys, report for induction could be bright- 
three males and three iemmcs. close | cned up into a rear hit. As is, it's 

.tunny, even- now. .■ ' \ 
I Nadell needs to prune a lot of 
i extraneous matter and possibly add 
to h;s mimicing. ; Just now he hasn't 
quite got the feel of his audience. 
'.-.■■■' ■ ■' :■'■■' Wear. 



show with class juggling routines 

Brog 



Legit Splurge 

; Continued from page I . 



this time last season only about 40 , '-'ONEL KAYE 



2 ' Zephyrs, 
Claw" (U). 



new shows were in sight for 1943-44, I fj?^^ Auctioneer 
A lot of new backers' coin was 
Red ft Curly; "Scarlet {used up by the spring musical fail- 
ures but there is evidently plenty 



The" Earle is back on the all-sepia \ more around, as shown by the im- 



,-Sam .'a> k Kaufmai's musicians 
open \yith an anniversary overture, 
celebrating the 20th birthday of 
; ,eo-tliC-LiOn (Metro), with slides 
from hit pictures. Lynn Allison 
vocalizes the tunes. Then Milt Slos- 
ser at the organ, for comedy lyrics 
and a community sinj;. 

Edwards Bros, open with fast 
acrobatic routine .if hand-to-hand 
balancing. Followed by Buster 
Shaver and his lilliptitians. Olive 
and George are now joined by 
younger brother. Richard, who 
pours forth a medley- of hit tunes 
from ' Oklahoma." Brother and sis- 
ter work well, are clever show peo- 
ple, and with Shaver at the pianO 
click for a solid hit. Romo Vincent, 
rotund comic follows with a budget 
of songs.: Vincent is a one-man 
global war against gloom. 

Revuo closes with a seven-point 
badminton match between Ken 
Davidson and ,'ohn Scott. T'lis is 
cannily presented to generate ex- 
citement, and with little tricks of 
showmanship registers as a wow 
sporting act. 

Show is well lighted and staged. 
Gene Ford going in for production 
value. ''. . Arke. 



standard this week, though the 
show doesn't quite hit the standards 
of two weeks ago when the house 
was almost Wrecked by the. Ink 
Spots, Ella Fitzgerald and Co.; it's 
solid all the way: ; 

Earl Hiries and his tuneful foot- 
ers dote on the two B's — blues 
and boogiei-woogie, with Hines, him- 
self, pacing the proceedings on the 
Steinway; * : 

Vocalists include curvaceous Betty 
Roche, whose forte is the Harlem 
style balladeering like "Straighten 
Out and Fly Right," "Ever Loving 
Bines" and "A Train." , 

Male chirper is Jesse Perry, a frail 
character with a robust voice who 
stresses the romantic style, pleasing 
with his renditions of "Long Ago" 
and "My First Love." 

Louise Beavers, husky character 
actress of the films, opens her stint 
on an unfortunate note, . essaying 
"Sunny Side of the Street" -in a 
monotone, aggravated by a cold. 
The big gal, however, scores with 
her "retake" of a scene from "Belle 
Starr." in which she recently played. 

One of the oddest acts to be un- 
veiled here is that presented by the 
Two Zephyrs. Their stint starts out 
in the conventional dance-team man- 
ner, but then the lads, segue 'into a 
tricky slow-motion routine which is 
a laugh-getter. They pantomime a* 
couple of crap-shooters who wind up 
in a razor battle. 

Red and Curley. a: couple of tal- 
ented hoofers,, round out the bill. 
The team adds spice to their terp- 
chore with a round of skin-beating. 

House was fairly well-filled de- 
spite humid weather. Slwl. 

- IIKO. Boston 

Boston, July 6, 

Gene' Krnpa Orch (25) , uiith the 
Edwards Sisters. Evelyn Ambrose, 
The. G-Noters; Eddie White. Jimmy 
Dale. Paul Remos and Toy Boys; "A 
Night of . Adventure" (RKO). 



posing number of *une-and-dancers 
to come. How niany will actually 
ring up the curtain, of the more 
than a score of musicals planned, is 
a guess, yet there seems to be sub- 
stance to plans for those which are 
carded to go on. As there are not 
more than 17 theatres which can 
house musicals, and ar, some shows 
of that type now playing should be 
on hand in the new season, there is 
bound to be as much of a theatre 
shortage as last season. Earlier new 
clicks, therefore, will' have an ad- 
vantage, '.;.',' 

Mor-3 or less in si.me stage of 
preparction. are such musicals as 
"Bloomer Girl," which John C. Wil- 
son will do; "Laughing Room Only," 
by Shuberts and Hairy Kaufman, 
starring Olsen and Johnson; "Have a 
Good Time," Dave Wolper's next 
show; "Holiday for Girls," to be 
done by Harry Delmar, Emil Fried- 
lander and Al Bordc; "Abraca- 
dabra," which Richard Himber and 
Orson Welles are doing;' "Sadie 
Thompson," being readied by A. P. 
Waxman with Paramount backing; 
Theatre Guild's musical "Liliom" 
rnd "Floating Down Flugel Street" 
• ballet); "Song of Norway." pro- 
duced on the Coast md due into the 
Majestic in August, put on by 
Homer Curran, Shuberts and 
Michael Todd! 

* Musicals 
•Slated to be among the. first of 
next season's musicals; "Seven Live- 
ly Arts " which Billy Rose will spot 
in ,th» Ziegfeld, is actually indefinite 



State, N.'Y.. - '. . 
•The "daffy auctioneer" from "Sons 
o' Fun" carries his same? routine 
over to the vaudfilmeries with loud 
success Using the technique of auc- 
tioning off unseen items for small 
change and buying things from pa- 
trons, he has the audience howling 
with the objects he bestows upon 
bidders. . ■: ,•*• ''■'.■. ■' ".■'-. '■"-?.'!','•:;: '■'■'S 
Overcoming audience reluctance 
to participate in the proceedings in 
short order, Kaye keeps things mov- 
ing at a brisk pace, winding up with 
an audience, participation shot that 
features ah undressing contest; With 
a shapely fenime assistant, Kaye dis- 
plays a keen wit throughout. 



DOROTHY DONEGAN 
Pianist 

7 Mins. ' 
State, N. Y. '.. 

Appearing in both the Aim and on 
the stage, this Negro gal dishes out 
a double-barrel discharge of crack 
boogie-woogie that had the younger 
element hopping with her lush pian- 
istics. Playing "Honeysuckle Hose," 
"Tea for Two," plus other oldies in 
addition to the classics, she segues 
i hto boogie-woogie for enthusiastic 
impression. ,-'-. --.>' 

However, she fails to impress with 
her personality, other than musical- 
ly, working dumb throughout ap- 
pearance, Announcing her own num- 
bers or working in some patter be- 
tween tunes would help a lot. 



GRACIE BARRIE 

Songs ' ;'■ -'' '."-V.''-/'"'. ■ 

14 Mins. '-• ■•'.•'■ '-.N; ' 

State, N. Y.i'.'^v- '.'.;•.; :,.:', ..: ■ .;': 

Gracie Barrie, who recently gave 
up fronting her' serviceman-hus- 
band's band (Dick Stabile), really 
comes into her own in this single. A 



on its starting date and it may be I ooker - stunningly gowned, she does 



Majestic, ft. A. 

San Antonio, July 5. 
D'Anega Girl Orch (18) featuring 
Vickie Lester, Lois Marie, Betty Lou. 
Mary Lee Carrol, the Symphonettes 
(3); Danny Drayson, Cleo Florenz. 
Watson Sisters (2); "The Hour Be- 
fore Datuii" (Par). 



Tower, K. C. 

Kansas City, July 7. 
George Dewey Washington, Frank 
Payne. Jim Valdare, George & 
Mickey Winters, Bonniedean 
Hedges, Tower Orch (9) with 
Marilyn Ballinger; "Jam Session" 
(Col) and "Slightly Terrific" (U): 



Interstate Circuit sets off summer 
season with a fast moving musical 
revue which is pleasing patrons at 
all showings. The 60-minute show 
is well balanced for the soldier audi- 
ence with only two males in the en- 
tire , setup, D'Artega and Danny 
Drayson, 

Gjrl. crew led by D'Artega has .two 
pianos: three' violins, six ' sax/ two 
trombones bass and drum. Girls 
stand but well in. their arrangements, 
and show good musicianship, but at 
times brass section is a bit too loud. 
Entire program is composed of jive 
tunes. Change in pace should show 
band off to better advantage. 

D'Artega's own tune "In the Blue 
of Evening" introduces band and is 
also featured in the band's program: 
A "War Medley" dedicated to the 
men in uniform follows to good ef- 
fect. Other tunes include "Two 
O'clock Jump," "Holiday -. lor 
Strings" and a George Gershwin 
medley. 

From the band, Lois Marie vocals 
"Begin the Beguine," with an ac- 
cordion accompaniment. Betty Lou 
contribs nice keyboard work in her 
' Boogie Woogie Piano''; newcomer 



George Dewey Washington, sepia 
baritone, comes back .to Kaycee 
after a long absence to top the cur- 
rent Tower opus, and capacity open- 
ing day crowds indicate that, he 
still , retains following here. 
■Wearing the battered hat and 
tramp, getup which has become his 
trademark, singer .comes oh ' to 
"Marching Home to You." Follows 
with "Old Man RiVer." : ; "Laugh. 
Clown, "Laugh" and "Chloe," all 
done with spoken choruses. Two 
bows before the ;clo,«eih, and payees 
wanted more. ' .. ,. 

House, orch opens .show: with "I'll 
Be Seeing You," . with Marilyn 
Ballinger. vocalist, scoring with tw'o 
-choruses. ■■'"', 
.-.'Frank Payne, mimic, doubles as 
m;c. and brings on Jim Valdare, 
comedv cyclist, who gets laughs 
with his "antics on wheels. Then 
George & Mickey Winters, who 
contrib nifty tap routine.. 

On next, Payne does takeoffs on 
Bergen & McCarthy, F. D R., W. C. 
Fields. Bob Eberly, ':The Voice" 
and others. Clicks nicely. "Discov- 
ery Night" winner is Bonniedean 
Hedges, who does a song-ahd-tap 
specialty. ' . Earl. 



The new Gene Krupa orch. with 
eight fiddles adding a long-hair at- 
mo.sp.tiexe. Js stronger on size than 
style. Krupa handles band well and 
gets in a few loud licks on the hides, 
but the arrangements lack distinc- 
tion. Working around the circuit 
should cure most of the ills. 

At the present, the band is a 
standard bruss-reed„-rhythm combo 
with strings as an afterthought. But 
it is imm'essive' and the jivers eat 
it. up. Krupa has lost none of his 
hide beating skill. Evelyn Ambrose 
is a fine vocalist, turning out "If 
Could Happen to You" and "Is You 
Is or Is You Ain't" with a bit of 
swing. The; G-Noters are okay in 
"Milkman Keep Those Bottles Quiet" 
and "A Slip of the Lip." 

Eddie White's gags are a bit naive 
and his singing raucous, but he gets 
over. Edwards Sisters' tapping fine 
in the rhythm and energy depart- 
ment. But the bisjgest hand went to 
the standard act of Paul Remos and 
his Toy- Boys, a pair of midgets 
who look; like 5-year-old kids and 
who turn in amazing acrobatics. / 



late fall before it arrives. Same 
goes for "Music Box RevUe," which 
Irving Berlin and Max Gordon pro- 
pose, and the latter's "Sweet Laven- 
der." Gordon's fi'r.n musical next 
season will probably be "Firebrand," 
Vinton Freedley promises "Frankie 
and-J^hrmiel!- (with Horace Schmid- 
lapp and Richard Isxakeur asso- 
ciated). Robert Stolz is due to bow 
in with "Happily Ever After" and 
also has "Mr. Strauss Goes to . Bos- 
ton." ';. '",-'"... '.'■' 

"Hiiil. Columbia!" is promised by 
Lou Walters', "Hit the Sky" is. 



four songs, "Pack Up Your Trou-. 
bles." segueing into a lyric on 
"Adolph, Benito and Tojo," "I'll Be 
Seeing You.',' "Holiday for. Strings" 
and "I Can't Say No" from "Okla- 
homa," that had the customers ask- 
ing for more. 

Her poise, phrasing and expression 
are top drawer, - 



THE HARTNELLS 
Tap Dancers 
8 Mins. 

Glass Hat, Belmont-Plata, N, Y. 

The Hartnells, Australian man and 
woman dance duo, have a trim tap- 
planned by the Shuberts. "Way Up dancing act that fits solidly into a 
Central Park" is scheduled by Todd, small hotel room. Male, besides do- 
'Napoleon Without Brandy" figures ing all right with tapstering, regis 



Orpheuni, L. ;%. 

Los Angeles, July 5. 
. Henny' Yoithginan, Arthur Lee 
Simpkiits. 6 Willys. The Glenn s (3) 
Arthur Blake. Roberts Sis. (2) "ft 
White; AC Lyons House Orch . HO); 
"Sudor On a Holiday" tCol). 



Slick comedy chatter by Henny 
Youngman and the top tenOring:.of 
Arthur Lee Sinipkins set a fast pace 
for; the. smooth variety bill this, week- 
at the "Orpheum. All turns are 
standard and good, each contribut- 
ing to the excellent whole, making 
for neat entertainment. . , 

Yoiiiigman's gab is well-liked here. 
Comic keeps U cleon for general 
family consumption, knows timing 
and how to sell a quip for the best 
returns. His casual style, nifty 
modern material caught on well at 
opening matinee. Arthui* Lee Simp- 
kins. Negro tenor who's currently in 
a long run at the Florentine Gar- 
dens, Hollywood nitery, and under 
contract at Metro varies his musical 
offerings to display wide range of 



to have Phil Baker ;i:d Sid Silvers 
the presenters, "On the Town" will 
introduce Oliver Smith and Paul 
Fiegay. "What a Romeo" is listed 
by Arthur Gershwin and ' the Shu- 
berts, while among the revivals 
there is "The Gypsy Baron," S. 
Hurok presenting. 

Still another musical due is 
'Howdy, Hero," to be done by 
George Abbott. It is based on an 
idea by Cy Howard, radio actor and 
writer. Lad was in "Storm Opera- 
tion," Maxwell. Anderson's. war play, 
which flopped last season. Hugh 
Martin and Ralph Blane are due to 
do the score. Abbott is also awaiting 
completion of Phil DVnnjrig's" "King 
Coffee" Several .oth.^r musicals are 
I reported in the offing. 

The Dramas . . 

The straight play" are, starting 

with 'Catherine was Great" ,and 
! "School for Bride;,' early rn 

August, "vVhen the Sun Shines," A 

Goose for. the Gan-le; ." 
j.More," "Men to the Sea," "If , a 
| Body,' "Good Morn|ii.?, Corporal." 
j "Lowe; North," Brown Derby,' 

"And Never Yield," "A Star to Fol- 
' low 

or Money," "Fanny, ' "Fire Shall 
Forgive," "Errand for Bernice," 
' Embezzled Heaven," "Dark Conti- 
nenti" "Elmer the Second," "Cham- 
pagne for Everybody," "Children 
Grow," "Hand in Glove," "Last Stop," 
"Henry VIII," "In B*'d We Crv. 
. '■• ;"••'■• • . ■■' i-'iV •*.. • >■■>..•. 



ters trimly with a flock of Russian 
steps. :'" "!•.'"'•.••'": 

Pair works well in unison hoofing 
although he's considerably taller 
than his blonde partner. Could 
brighten up turn with different garb. 
. ".'•' ; Wear. 



THE DRAKES (3) 

Dancing 

10 Mins; 

State. N. Y.; . " ' . "•-'- :.' V • 

This trio of two gals and a boy 
perform regular ballroomology in 1 
pleasing manner.. The two fenimes, 
oretty and well dressed, are grace- 
ful, and together with the male 
member of the team execute stand- 
ard twists and twirls in neat fashion, 
with good timing and routines. 



"Journey to a Star," "•Reprise," "Re- 
turn to Eden," "Mncnificent Yan- 
kee." "Mama's Bank Account," "Mr. 
Tutt," .''My bear MIh." a Rachel 
brothers play, "On ihi^Town,". "Sol- 
Sleep No jdier's Wife," "The Clover Ring," 
•'- "Strange- Fruit," "The Assasin," "The 
I Late Geor«e Aoley," "Violet," "Tuck- 
| er's People," "The . White Rabbit," 
: "The Overtons," "The Perfect Mar- 
"A Wind Is Rising,"_"For Love j riage." "Who Sups With the Devil," 

"Education . of Hyman Kaplan," 
"Love - and the Census Taker," 
"Sainted : Sisters," "Good Soldier 
Schweik," . "You Only ,-' Twinkle 
Once," and "Georgia JBoy." Before 
Labor Day the list of possibilities 
will probably he extended :. 
';•';'.'. -.,( i , ,•; •.',-,..■. f . 



40 



LEGITIMATE 



P%HIETY 



Wednesday, July 12, 19 U 



Broadway Biz Wilts, But 'Hats Off' 
Great $.50,000, Indians' $12,000, 
'Helen' to Quit, 15G; Cellar Levels 



Broadway is slumping and grosses 
fast «;eek went to cellar' levels. 
Shows '-which' were doing compara- 
tively moderate business slipped to 
S.VOUO and- $9,000 and in some: in- 
stances were overestimated. Five 
closings, last Saturday .18.1 and more, 
to come - this. week. So 'much, over.-' 
all. was live .dive .in attendance that? 
even -•Olkahoma" might have, been 
affected were , it not. for the record 
advance sale. The. other sure thing. 
''The Voice of the. Turtle." .is laying 
•.off. Fourth of July matinees were 
fairly good in face 'of sunny weal her, 
but. the; night, trade was: way. down, 
even for. leaders, and since then a 
beat wave has set in. • . .. . 
, •-Hats Off to lee." the new skating 
show, scored great business: how- 
eve;, and. With extra matinees, 
grossed aii estimated $50,000, New- 
.liesjj Of the- .'show and its' Radio City 
location are -favorable factors. .'..'•' '•• 
Estimates for Last Week . 

Keys: 'C (Coined))); D Wramal. 
CO. i (.'(»i.icri.!.i-Di(i iini ) i'?; R '.' .tflteiute) , 
H (itfiisicdti. O (Operetta). 

"Angel Street." Golden ( 135th 
week) (D-789: $3.60);' With, the list, 
.shrinking, this; drama may benefit 
after '.thi's'.wcek: rated around S5.000. 

."Carmen Jones," Broad wav (32d 
v eek i (CD-1.900: $3 1. Dipped a bit 
under $45,000. which means a new 
low. colored musical operated profit- 
ably.: - ' ' •• '...'• 

"Chicken Every Sunday." Plv- 
mouth ( Mlh week i: (C-1.075: $3.80 ». 
Slipped to $0,000 or less but intention 
is to continue through July.. 

"follow <he Girls," 441b Street 
1 13th week) (M-1,463; $4.80), Newer 
than -most other musicals, but went 
oft as much as others; bit over-esti- 
mated; big Saturday placed gross at 
jieavlv $30,500. " 

"Hats Off to Ice." Center (3d week) 
iR-3.438: $1.98). While the field was 
•dropping sharply, new skating revue 
cleaned up and. with extra holiday 
matinees, quoted around $50,000: ex- 
tra, inatitjees , on Thursdays added 



★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 




this month and August, making four 
afternoons weekly!; 

"Helen. Goes to Troy," Alvln (O- 
1,357: $4.80). In final and 12th week: 
never did reach weekly capacity . but 
quite strong hv early weeks; dived 
toward $.15,000. 

I'.lacolinwskv and the Colonel," 
Beck (17th week) (C-1,214.; $il.6()i. 
Played an extra matinee but esti- 
mated around $16,000: that Was about 
best figure for straight plays but con- 
siderably under previous pace. '•• ', 

"Kiss and Tell." '■ Billmore (67th 
week) (C-926: $3,60). Dowti. . lo. 
around $6,000 but is expected to pick 
up after another week and expected 
to Slav 

"Life With Father." Empire (244lh 
weelo (C-1,082: $3.60), Went off, but j 
much. better than most other straight 
plays:: bit over $10,000 claimed. 

"Mexican Havride," Winter. Gar- 1 
detr (23d week) (M-1.523; $6 1. Was 
affected, too, and slightly under $40:- 
000: low- gross for .musical' that 
topped list ■ .-,,.' 

"Oklahoma," St. James (66th 
week) (M-1,520; $4.80), An extra 
matinee on the Fourth, sent gross 
over $33,000 but smash was saved by- 
advance sale. 

"One Touch of Venus," 46th Street 
(40th week) (M-1.319; $4.40). Has 
been with the leaders right from 
start: off last week to a round $29,000. 

"Pick-l'n Girl," 48th Street (9lh 
week i (D-909: $3:60). Rated around 
$6,000: one of few shows playing 
Sunday, night trade then. very good. 

"Ten Little Indians," Broadhurst 
(2d week) (D-l. 118; $3.60). Started 
last week as though aimed for real 
coin: tapered, count being around 
$12,000; fairly good. . 

"The noujrhgiils," Lyceum (80th 
w eek ) (C-993; $3.60). Around $7,000. 
new low, as with the others; last, 
weeks still advertised but may go 
through month;. : ':'.'.-; 

"The Searching Wind." Fulton 
flSth week) -te=948r-$4T20). Was 
among leading straight play grosser* 
but nosed down sharply last week; 
$13,500 estimated, a drop of 33%. 

"The Voice of the Turtle," Morosco 
(C-893: $4:20). Laying off until late 
August after playing 29 weeks; box- 
office open, 
j "The Two Mrs.' Carrolls," Booth 
I (p-712; . $3.60). Laying off after 
playing. nearly a year (,48 weeks); 
•boxoffice open. - :. . ' .';. ' 
! '-Waliflower," Corl: Was an added 
j closing last week after, dropping to 
! $5,000 or less:- played 2? , weeks. ■ ■ 
' "Ziegfeld Follies," Imperial (66th 
j week-) lR-1.427: .$4.80K Slipped to 
around $21,000: lowest for longest- 
! runintig "Follies.'' '. 

NEIGHBORHOOD 

Is a Family," Flatbush, Brook- 
lyn. '■ 
■j-'- "Tomorrow the World," Windsor. 
I Bronx. ,-" .-;.'' . '; -j .'■ -,-.' - -""-.- '. - 

"Arsenic and Old Lace," Queens- 
boro, L. I. '■•'■ : 



SWANSON-FORBES CRACK 
STRAWHAT TOP $11,200! 

Philadelphia, July 11. 
.'• The ; Bucks .- .County Playhouse | 
broke its existing records during, its 
occupation of the Bellevue-Stratford 
ballroom, here ( i his .is the. third sea- 
son.) with a sizzling. $11,200, last week 
for "A Goose for the Gander.-" X'fix 
weren't any too enthusiastic over 
hew Harold J, Kennedy comedy: but 
Gloria Swansou's name, plus that of 
Ralph Forbes, pin -the show's b.o. 
over with a bang."- ■■'- " . ■'.-.• 

Bucks County . outfit would have 
done a line week under any circum- 
stances -but cancellation Friday 
afternoon of scheduled preen) of 
Michael -Todd's , "Catherine Was 
Great." on Friday night, with show 
held off uniil . last' night UUth) un- 
doubted', y helped the show at the 
Bellcvue. On' the other hand, torrid 
weather breaks were unfavorable in 
spite of cooling system in Bcllevue 
ballroom. Last . week's figure was 
three grand better than anything yet 
turned in this season. "Catherine 
Was Great" is listed for two weeks 
now. but is expected to stay three as 
advance sale was terrific. '•'■'.■''■,'--'. 

"Early to Bed." booked in for July 
24. has been put off until the 31st to 
give "Catherine'' ah extra week, if 
deemed expedient. "Bed" will un- 
doubtedly stay. .Until (maybe after) 
regular Labor .Pay fall ■ opening. 
Bellevue's , show for the Bucks 
County Playhouse this week, is "The 
Male Animal."' with. Dean Jagger 
featured. Outfit gets Fred Stone in 
a revival of ''Lighlnin' " next week 
with Powers Bouraud. well known 
local air- wave commentator, known 
as the "night -owl." making his fool- 
light debut in a supporting role. 



Chi B.0.s Up; 'Kiss' 11G, 'Brides' 
lO^G, 'Harry' 5G,'0kla.' Tops at 30G 



'Song of Norway' Sock 
$30,200, Frisco ; 'World' 9G 

San Francisco, Julv 11, 

"S&ng of Norway,"- at the Curran, 
pushed at record takes last week at 
$4 (op for 'estimated $30,200 



ZOO gross. 
Next dooiv at the Geary. -^Tomor- 
row the World," after a slow start 
built to satisfactory $9,000. :.'■ 



Play Out of Town 



'Abie' Hit by Wash. 

Heat, $6,500 in 3d 

i 'Washington, July .11. 

"Abie's Irish Rose", ran into a 
week of distressing heal and wound 
up its third week at the National 
with $6,500. "Ramshackle Inn" was 
booked in at 24 hours notice and 
caught the E street house without a 
set of tickets. Sale opened Saturday 
al $2 top. -' '"-''; 

Constance Bennett in "Without 
Love.'' the. Philip Barry play, ar- 
rives July 17. It will be followed by 
"Early to Bed." musical' comedy 
which will come in. at $3. top. on 
July 24. "Kiss and Tell" follows for 
two weeks on July HI. Other book- 
ings are in sight for August, which 
will- give Washington's only legiti- 
mate theatre a 52-week season. ■■;'-,'" 



Vnf liwiiio Whs 4»r«*ul 

Philadelphia. July 10. 

vMktme.l - rj'mltj i>i-,i,lni-l iun .of Viiprfui:!*,' (no 
tu'liiii-l in two Hyls .' Ivy . Alue W'h.sI ; xttfrs 

Muf; Whhi : siH&eU'fiy Koy 'WarKr.ny*'; set- 
JiiiSs*. IIowmi-o K«y; i-osujiiu'ft designed by 
Kmi**^ Sicfivopps a ort.^t >,)•>•; SVnPriol;. 
llliMii",! -»( Koi'VpsL* ..(li^alt-e. IMiilmletoliiii, 
Julv l.tfi ';4t: : J • 

'. ciist :ini-lu,i.'ji* >iiec,-: "N\v»i.~- Wh'unor. I 'i)ijn( p. 
Bv.Mlt, Kitim Kckt'ii. -MU-IU'tw .Miiiiree, 
.OlotiH.' PIimi-i-, Maiv -B»m. 
lij '.lost A'titilc.v.,- (ipiip Harry, 
a. Kay Boilrhoni't'jvtrt'iril Uoo,l- 
(Jol in l i). Ilnliei l .i.nns-. HLPK.-' 
Flank l'.asl".-. Albi-lt, . B.iyio', 
; Hurry ^0(lln,."Owi J n A'oli. An- 
thony JAtrl'une. : ,)ohii. l''it»«lfriL'k.- Donald 
(Jitivon. K,«l,lit: Giovo, I.(HonHan»itton. tier- 
nar.t lli)iriu'an.-'f)'}iy(ot) Tjoiiioils. .willidmil. 
Malonp,' jotm. ^ari.iflli. .lolio. HtepHpiri Itii-li- 
ai ft Hp., in-. . Rol)pi't- Slra o>H. M isha 'l',,nl;,'u, 
Wiltiain * (', -'rutts. Virlor Vion«y. t'liaile's 
HarC '.losefrli .\1.< on. I.lciii.r Viitrcllt..- ..\ ' - 



.Mila NiAini. 
Dllltn Mil-.. 
William -On-; 
win.' Ctliti les 
iiti.1.1 Allpn. 
Alli.-liaW Bey. 



mm ok m 

Yet many stars would be as 
"blind" as the doctor in 
"Three's A Family" were it 
not for the wonderful new 

INVISIBLE CONTACT 
LENSES 

Inner-Sight lenses are worn 
UNDER the lids with no tell- 
tale frames! Safe! Unbreak- 
able! Give even BETTER 
vision than ordinary eye- 
glasses. Convenient easy 
payments. Fjree trial fitting 
by eye specialist. Hours: 
10:30 to 5:30, Mon.-Fri. . 

INNER-SIGHT LENSES, 

'. Inc. 

Contact Le ii se.i 

475 Fifth Ave. at 41st,, N. Y. C. 
Suite 1114 V Tel. LE. 2-3797 



'Sally' Nabs 39G in L. A.; 
'Ladies' Opens at 12?G 

Los Angeles. July 11. 
Desiiita typical outdoors- weather, 
local .shows did excellent-' business 
durihg the holiday, week, with most 
legits ^garnering- dividcncls because 
of an extra- July 4 performance. 
Topping the lakes - "Sally" opened 
Monday, night at. the Philharmonic 
Auditorium and logged a sweet $:',!).- 
000 lor tlie- first week, owing chiefly 
to a carry-over on ticket sales from 
"Song of Norway." "Good Night La- 
dies" opened its' Coast run "at the 
j Biltmore.. tying in with the L. A: 
I Examiner's War Fund Drive, and 
grossed $12,500 for the initial stanza. 

Ken Murray's "Blackouts of 1944" 
went up to SI 6.500 on the 107th week. 
"Personal Appearance" picked up at 
the Mayan, registering $9.700. , and 
will n.ow ; extend another, week. Mu- 
sart's "Night Must Fall" rolled up to 
the fourth barrier with $3,300. .. ' 



'Marietta' $3,500 On 

Opening St. X. Night 

—Victor . Herbert's .''Naughty Mari- 
etta." current oll'ering of the Munici- 
pal Theatre Assn. teed off a seven- 
night stand last night (Monday) in 
the Forest Park A I Fresco Playhouse 
and drew mob. of 10.500. Gross, was 
approximately $3509. Top -warbling 
i-oles are . handled by Rosema'rie 
Brahcato. Eric' Maltson. Mary Hopple 
and Edward Roeker. Mary Wickes. 
a grad of the St. Louis Little Theatre, 
bowed in the- open, air' theatre as a 
comedienne. 

Others in the cast are Leroi Operti. 
John Brooks MeCormaok. Trudey 
Brooks. Inez Gorman. Philip Kins- 
man. Earl MacVeigh, Jack Sheehan 
and Taylor Holmes. . »:. v' ' 
. '"Hit the Deck." Vincent Youman's 
musical, wound up its one week Sun - 
day-(9) with a profitable $4"6.003. .'■' :■' 



'Road' 13G, Mont'l 

. . Montreal. July 11. 

' Tobacco Road." playing the Gay- 
efy here. 1,565-seat vaucler other- 
wise shuttered for the summer, piled 
lip wh amnio $13,000 at $1.75 top plus 
lax despite torrid heat all lasl week 
lor seven nights and two. matinees. 

Show continues another week: - 



'Family' 7 |/ 2 G, Boston 

Boston. Julv 11 
What is left of. legit . in the Hub 
during- the dog days took a beating 
last week. ,*-..' 

"Three's a Family" slid along with 
$7,500 for the 10th week at the Co- 
lonial. 'Cambridge 'S'umnjev- Theatre 
sweltered with Julie Haydeir in 
I "Guest in the House" at the -rate of 
■$1800. Had biggest opening night in 
theatrels five-year history. 
. "Dark Eyes," with Lenore JJlric. 
opened last night. .' :.'" • ■■-' : 



i 'PRINCE' 20G. 1'VILLE 

Louisvtlie. • Juh 11. 
■'■"SUideht Prince." Sigmuud Rom- 
. berg ojjei-etta. opened -the.- seventh 
■ season of al fresco shows at Irociiiois 
. Amphitheatre kist week (3) to an 
! est ini.nl ed $2,500 hotise. Bstih'iatefl' 
j gross ■ On the scven-dav stanza is 

I R20,ooo. " ; 

I Pfoduclior.s ' are- handled by J. J.. 
I Shubcrt. - - : 



Current Road Shows 

(.lulu 12-221'.. • -.. 

"A Goose for the Gander"— Black-; 
slone. Chicago ( 12-22 I. 

"Catherine Was Great" — Forrest, 
Philadelphia ( 12-22.1. - , 

"Early to Bed"— Shubert, Nevy 
Haven (13-15 ). 

"Good Night, Ladies'— Cass. De- 
troit (12-15 1 

"Good Nifrht. l.aUJes" (2d Co. 1.-- 
Ball lmore. Los Angeles ( .12-22 l; 
| ".lanie"— Mayfair. Portland. 'Ore. 
(l,2-i3.i; Metropolitan. Seattle, Wash. 
1 14-22 I.. 

"Kiss and Tell" (2d Co. 1— Harris. 
Chicago (12-22). ,■''.-.' 

"Kiss, and Telt". (3d Co. >.— Shubert 
Lafayette. Detroit ,i 12-22 i. 

"Oklahoma"' (2d Co.i, — Erlanser. 
Chicago < 12-22"). ■ 

"Rumshackle Inn"— Selwyn, Chi- 
cago ( 10-22 ). 

"Three Is a famiiy" (2d Co,l.- 
Colonial. Eostbn (12-22 1. ; 

"Toinci row the World" (2d Co.V,^- 
Geary. San Francisco 1 12-22 C "': 

"Withoui Love"— National, Wash-, 
inglon (Hi-22.1. 



There were a lot of surprised peo- 
ple here tonight at the world pre- 
miere of Michael Todd's production 
of Mae West's play, "Catherine Was 
Great," at the Forrest. Some came 
expecting, despite advance publicity 
announcements, a sprawling musical 
comedy; others were probably figur- 
ing 'oil an ultra-bawdy.- piece; merely 
transporting the "sex" Diamond Lil 
motive back to the' day? of the Rus- 
sian tsars in the middle of the 18th 
century. ' • : ':,■•' ■••';'■',..;';. '-,: '.'■'('•' 

What was disclosed was an often 
exciting and almost always interest- 
ing historical drama, with plenty of 
comedy interludes mot to mention 
lines and a shrewd use of double 
enf eiidre):. ' Todd' has really shot the 
works in every department, and for 
sheef-.gorgeousness 'this city hasn't 
seen anything approaching it in a 
noii'Jmisical since the days of "Chu 
Chin Chow." '. : . .-. -' - 

An impoitant factor, too, is that 
Todd's production. aided and 
abetted by Howard Bay's glittering 
settings and the accompanying cos- 
tumes by Ernest Sclirapps and Mary 
Schenck. never err ii; the matter of 
taste. The. barbaric splendor of the 
aiicient Russian Empire, when 
Catherine reigned iupieme. is cap- 
tured in this 13-.scener (two acts, 
with a . brief prolost laid in a USO 
recreation room in this country, at 
the present time). , Even" though 
many of the characters will be 
Strange to the ordinary American 
playgoer, current interest in Russia, 
and thf fact that a great many ap- 
preciate what that country has gone 
through to rescue it iiom the feudal 
conditions that existed under the 
Rom. iiovs. will. add interest to the 
production. A factor that will ex- 
cite a lot of special interest, except 
lor those .in on vhe historical 
"know." is that Catherine, when she 
took tune .off between her amours 
—which were admittedly as many as 
Miss Vest suggests- ,-.-as. also a re? 
former and even considered free- 
ing of the serfs. 

Wha' Todd has before him now— 
and it's still a man-size job which 
he'll piobably be the first to admit 
—is a more complete cohesion be- 
tween Miss West's very apparent 
interest in, and fidelity to, her his- 
loricc'l theme and He- audience's 
quite natural desire to get their fill 
of Weslian wisecracks and sugges- 
tive remarks apropos of Catherine's 
love life; There isn't a doubt but 
what more of the .'attef will" be In- 
jected into "Catherine' -before the 
show gets through i's tryout here. 

Todd has been slivevv'd from the 
first when he postponed the opening 
from Friday to tonight (10). Vet- 
eran showmen were amazed when 
the cut lain fell at 11:05 p.m. (mark- 
ing a cut of nearly an hour since the 
iiist dress rehearsal) without sacri- 
ficing aiiy.of the beamy of produc- 
tion. H(. can still .inject: more com- 
edy: it: to the proceedings and at the 
sanie . time preserve . historical 
a ecu: a.cy,. 

Miss West plays. Ca'.iverine as she 
has wanted to play .her and as audi- 
ences have expected :-he would play 
bffi'V Her many chan'gos of costumes 
won ' gusp.s Irani the . iemines! ;' It-s 
hard In pick outsta'iders from ' the 
laTg'j cast liu-t O'.ru a huntlred), 
bttt special : word liiiist be said tor 
Joe Ashley as Prince Potemkin. 
Philip Huston as Gregory OrlolV, 
'Ghtnles Gerr.-ir'd as Count. Paunin. 
Bcrni.rd Hoffman' as Pugachcll' and 
Hubert Long as Alexis Orlof. 

With the right kind.' Df revision 
and rewrite, this one will go down 
us i stage 'spectacle of first water. 

-"''■''-'• .' Water*. 



. ' . Chicago. Julv 11. 

Influx of holiday , visitors aided by 
a couple of conventions helped box- 
offlces lasi week. "Kiss and Tell" liit 
$11,000 at the Harris, and "School 
for Brides" increased its take to $10.- 
500 at the Civic. Despite success tif 
local run,: "School for Bride*^ closes 
here July 29,.to open in Ne.w^ork the 
first week in August: probablv at file 
Royale theatre. - "Wildflower.'' third 
of summer series at the Civic Opera' 
House, opened slowly for about $4 - 
200 on .firs) three performances. 
"Uncle Harry" closed' Saturday (gi 
at the Great Northern to $5,000 and 
"Oklahoma" was, a .sellout again at 
the Erlanger to $30,000. 

Blackstone relights tonight (11) 
with Gloria ' Swanson in "A Goose 
for the Gander," and the Selwyn 
emerges from darkness.next Monday 
(17), when "Ramshackle Inn" opens 
with ZaSu Pitts. ..: 

Estimates for Last Week 

"Kiss and Tell," Harris (61st week) 
(1.000: $3). Gained $3,000 to reach 
SI 1,000. '-'. ■;,.-"'.•'.'■' 

"New Moon," Civic Opera House 
(2d week) (3,(500: $2:50). Last six 
performances of second week took 
$18,000. ■■ ■ ' 

"Oklahoma," Erlanger (34th week)' 
(1.500; $4.20). Sellout $30,000. '; 

"School for Brides," Civic (Bth 
week) (900; $3). Best week yet with 
$10.500.h, '. ■;',,". : " 

"HiicTe Harry," Great Northern 
(10th week) (1,400; $31. Couldn't sur- 
vive the heat. Closed Saturday (8). 
to around' $5,000. 

"WildHowrr," 'Civic Opera House . 
(3.600: $2.50). Opened Friday (7), 
Fi rst three performances drew about 
$4,200. . :•-''•.-.->.:.■- . ':■:'.,' , 



'LADIES' $1 1,000, ^KISS' 
$8,000 FOR OKAY DET. 

... Detroit. July H .';',:;_ 
Hot weather has made little change 
on (he prolonged runs at the two, 
legitimate houses still in operation; 

"Good Night, Ladies" wound up 
its seventh week at approximately 
$11,000 to keep near same pace as in 
the sixth week. Comedy goes an- 
othor week before cast sea Hers for 
vacation. • 

"Kiss and Tell" al the Lafayelle 
also held to the same level hi its: 
third week, over $8.000 "to nearly 
reach second week's figure. Llia 
Lee has taken over the vacalloniug . 
Violet Hciuing's role., V 

'Big Ltt^re Show 7 for L. A. 

Hollywood, July! I I. 
Assistance League Playhouse re- 
opens July 18 with "The Big Little 
Show.", produced by Jack Mosse.r and. 
booked for four weeks. . 
-Piece is an . intimate revile in. 26 
scenes, With a cast of 20 headed by 
Frank Mitchell. Billy Nelson. Paby 
Parker. Aurora and Carlyle. Annette,. 
Ken Berry and Martar Bros. 

'_ [ s — : — .:■:- 

Patent Suit Vs. 'Wind' 

Patent infringement suit against 
Herman Shumlin, Kermit Bloomgar. 
den. Max B. and Lillian Hellman. 
general partners in "The Searching 
Wind" company, was filed by Abe 
Kurnit. an inventor of a ''portable 
trackage system." patented in JtM2, 
Suit is filediin N. Y. federal court. 

According to. the complaint, th* 
defendants are charged with infring- 
ing on his exclusive property by 
manufacturing and using stage seen, 
ery-shifting equipment, devices and 
apparatus embodying his inventions. 
The defendants, Kurnit alleges, are 
continuing ' the alleged'! ihfrrrigeiTnjflt 
by using the trackage systems in 
presenting "Searching Wind" at the 
Fulton theatre, N. V., although noti- 
fied of the unlawful acts, 

Action seeks an injunction, dam- 
ages and ah accounting of profits. 



'DESERT SONG' 7G. TOLEDO 

. Toledo. July 11 
"Desert Song," offered July, 1-9 .'-as 
an outdoor musical for the second 
time in three seasons, coming only a 
few, months after the screen attrac- 
tion: ended the 10-day showing about 
$5,000 in the red, grossing $7,000. 



PLAY PUBLISHERS 

«... . of fh*i« and many 
othtr dittinguithtd playt 

EVE OF ST MARK • KITTY 
FOYLE • MRS MINIVER 
BEST FOOT FORWARD 
HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY 
TRELAWNY OF THE WEILS 
TOMORROW THE WORID 
lOST HORIZON • GREAT BIG 
DOORSTEP • Catolog on request 



THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING CO. 



Wednesday, July 12, 1944 



LEGITIMATE 



41 



Producers Cautioned Again Anent 
Advance Parting on Sets, Costumes 



Producers of shows for next sea- 4 
son are again cautioned to coordin- 
ate the dates of opening perform- 
ances with the actual start of mak- 
ing scenery and -costumes. Because 
of restrictions on materials it will be 
necessary to order settings and cos- 
tumes at least four weeks before be- 
ginning rehearsals or eight to nine 
weeks before first showings. As soon 
as new attractions are mentioned in 
the dailies, accessory - people imme- 
diately advise producers of probable 
delays, unless orders are given well 
in advance. •.':■'.• 

Showmen had been told that 
scenic conditions were such that it 
will be mandatory to start work long 
before initial presentation, and now 
the situation in costume plants has 
become jammed because of union 
restrictions. Upon the incarceration 
of Louis Hollander for extortion 
some months ago, the Theatrical Cos- 
tume Workers sought affiliation with 
some other theatrical union but Wil 
]iam Green, the American Federa 
lion of Labor head, ruled that TCW 
affiliate with the International 
Ladies Garment Workers Union 

ILGWU is not familiar with show 
business with the result that people 
in costume shops are limited to 35 
hours per week, with overtime pro 
hibited unless absolutely necessary. 
Costumers asked for the same sched- 
ule as in Hollywood, where 40. hours 
and eight hours overtime are set by 
the union, but ILGWU rejected the 
proposal. Costumers propose that 
e.v-N. Y. Mayor Jimmy Walker arbi 
trate a working agreement between 
the operators and costume workers. 

Stated that costume workers ob 
lained a 29% pay increase in the last 
two years and seek another boost of 
15%. Indications are that because of 
the restrictions in hours and possible 
wage tilt that production costs will 
jump, with musical shows likely to 
average around $200,000. 



ZaSu Pitts-W Dae 

For Run in Chicago 

"Ramshackle Inn," ZaSu Pitts' 
starrer which wound up its New 
York run Saturday (8), will not be 
given a whirl around pop-priced sub- 
way circuit but will be roadshown 
instead. Comedy opened at National, 
Washington, Monday (10) and will 
jump from there directly to Selwyn 
theatre, Chicago, for a run. "Inn" 
had previously been considered for 
the subway loop. 

John Golden's "3 Is a Family," 
which also wound up New York run 
Saturday, will traverse subway cir- 
cuit, having opened last night (11) 
at the Flatbush, Brooklyn, and goes 
to the Windsor, Bronx. Other cir- 
cuit houses follow. '<...' 



Kettering Eyes Kibbee 
For New Chi Comedy 

Ralph Kettering, Chicago legit 
producer and operator of the Civic 
theatre. Chi, is set to do a new com- 
edy, "The Girls He Left Behind," in 
Chicago' next season. 

Currently angling for Guy Kibbee, 
who recently closed in revival of 
"The Old Soak" for Frank McCoy 
and is reported interested if film 
commitments permit.' '." y 



B'way Speculates on Possibility 
Of Having Its 'Worst' Summer 



Stafford, Munson Star 
In Soap Opera Satire 

Los Angeles, July 11. 

New comedy, ribbing radio's soap 
operas, opens at the Bela.sco theatre 
July 31, with Hanley Stafford and 
Ona Munson as co-stars. 

Stage piece was authored by 
Francis Swann who will co-produce 
with Zion Meyers., \ 



SET I. K. DAVIS PLAY 

Irving Kaye Davis and Victor 
Hugo Ridal have pacted whereby 
the latter will produce the former's 
new play, "Last Stop," on Broadway. 
Play is Davis' 60th. : .' v . 

Playwright is husband of Elsa 
Shelley, who clicked right off the 
bat with her first play, "Pick-Up 
Girl," produced by Mike Todd's staff 
and current at. 48th Street theatre, 
New York. 



kale Staff-Legit 

Changes in "Follow the Girls," 44th Street, N. Y.. indicate the operating 
nut will b«e cut but not to any great extent, since Equity rules stipulate 
that when the management gives notice the replacement actor must get 
as much salary as the original. However, in the case of Frank Parker he 
quit the show on his own and Bill Tabbert was engaged to take over his 
part. Parker thought three months in the same job was about enough, 
being used to changing programs in radio, and he also claimed he had to 
go back to his Connecticut' farm to attend to the vegetables, not being able 
to get enough .help. • f '•...'; • •'.' ... . 

Toni Gillman also gave her notice and the matter of salary for the re- 
placement is between the latter and Dave Wolper. the producer. Wolper 
gave notice to the Di Gatanos. but the dance combo will not be replaced. 



Subway Circuit 
Doing Good Biz 

Subway circuit, consisting of the- 
atres in the neighborhoods of New 
York, is again affording welcome 
summer engagements for actors, tak- 
ing up the slack in summer stock 
jobs. Contracts are given players 
for at least two weeks, but attend- 
ance has been favorable enough to 
repeat the bookings in several in- 
stances. ■;•:.."■'•'. "" "'..'"?''; '■'.!'&'■': 

J. J. Leventhal and the Brandt 
brothers are teamed in operating the 
Flatbush, Brooklyn, and Windsor, 
Bronx, for legit, and while casts were 
formerly asked to take salary cuts 
for neighborhood dates, understood 
there has been little slicing this sum- 
mer so far. In addition to the above 
outlying houses, the Queensboro is 
also in on pop legit, under different 
management, and Leventhal has 
taken over the Garden Pier theatre, 
Atlantic City. ' ,! ~ 

Neighborhoods are getting mostly 
shows which played Broadway suc- 
cessfully during the past season. 
Best gross was drawn by "Early to 
Bed." which started with a $17,000. 
week and was repeated in Brooklyn 
and the Bronx. "Porgy and Bess"' 
did alright too, $16,000. "Arsenic 
and Old Lace" netted a goodly re- 
turn with takings of $10,000, and 
"Tomorrow the World," which also 
recently closed on Broadway, had a 
quite profitable date in Brooklyn last 
week. 

Other Broadway shows used were 
"Mis: January and Mr. Ex," "Janie," 
"Decision" and. "Blith e Sp irit" (re- 
Vived for stoeE7r"~"TrIree HT a~Fam- 
ily " which closed at the Belasco Sat- 
urday (8), moved directly into the 
neighborhoods Monday (10). 



Cowl Unavailable, 

Drop 'Yonkers' Tour 

Proposed revival of Thornton 
Wikler's comedy, "The Merchant of 
Yonkers," which Fred Morand in- 
tended reviving, With Jane Cowl 
starred, for. whirl around N. Y. sub- 
way circuit and road tour, has been 
set back because of inability to pact 
Miss Cowl, who has other commit- 
ments. Morand says he'll do it later 
if he can sign another name. 

"Merchant" was originally pro- 
duced on Broadway some years back 
by Herman Shumlin. 

Back-Pay Delay- 
Stars Stagehands 

Muttered indications of a strike 
were heard in New York stagehand 
circles because of a week's delay in 
payment of retroactive wages or- 
dered by the regional War Labor 
Board. However, at a meeting be- 
tween Local 1, International Alliance 
of Theatrical Stage Employees, and 
the managers on Friday (7), the 
showmen agreed that the lump sums 
would be forthcoming the next day, 
and payment was made. During the 
session there was bickering, union 
men being somewhat agitated over 
points questioned by the managers! 
Another confab is due this week. 

To be ironed out is a union idea 
of paying all men while the settings 
are being lighted. Managers pointed 
out that only operators were re- 
quired for the lighting and said it 
was an imposition to pay the bal- 
ance of the men who had nothing 
to do. WLB's instructions as to re- 
troactive coin to heads of depart- 
ments who are on the job 46 weeks 
is still, not clarifi ed hut it was con- 
ceded that comparatively'Tew dec^ 



•f Broadway and London's West End 
have sagged with closings in the past 
two weeks but for entirely different 
causes. Over here the slump in busi- 
ness came as a result of various rea- 
sons, while over there attendance 
dived because of the Nazi robot 
bombs (further details on Page One). 

Five Broadway closings last week 
and the drop in grosses all along the 
line gave rise to the opinion that 
this will be the "worst" summer in 
years. Borne out is the prediction 
last month of uncertainty and indi- 
cations that \ attendance chances . 
looked doubtful. Present condition 
of the boxoffices indicate that the 
estimate of 15 shows going through 
the summer locks high. 

80% Admish Tax 
Viewing the casualties of the past 
feu: weeks, Broadway managers are 
of the opinion that the doubled ad- 
missions tax of .20% is a contributing 
if not a strong factor in skidding re- 
ceipts. During April, when the fed- 
eral nick was boosted, it was not 
immediately recognized as a real 
deterrent, because" many tickets were 
^bought in advance at the old 10% 
rate. :''.--..-:'. ',';..':>•:..',"•■. 

It is quite clear that playgoers 
haven't as much money to spend as 
they did during the season, and the- 
weekend influx to New York has 
evaporated for that reason, too. Be- 
cause of the slim bunch from out of 
town, Sundays are not so good, as 
shown by the fact that only three 
shows give performances, Exception 
is the new "Hats Off to Ice" (Cen- 
ter), when the matinee goes clean; 

Another heat wave hasn't helped 
cither, despite cooling systems, while 
the appeal to the public by Wash- 
ington not to travel is still, another 
thing that's the matter with busi- 
ness. Managers say there will be 
an upturn soon on the basis of hotel 
reservations from mid-July on, and 
those with shows still lighted ar» 
hoping that will prove true. 



General Henry H. Arnold, head of the Army Air Forces, and his wife, 
visited Moss Hart at. the dramatist's country home in Bucks County. Pa., 
over the weekend that preceded D-Day. Of course, there was no hint of 
the invasion from the AAF commander, but other guests later commented 
on the casualness. of the general, who was in on so vital a secret. 

Hart wrote "Winged Victory" at the request of General Arnold, through 
whom he visited the flying fields in a bomber before starting the epic 
drama, now being filmed on the Coast. Report that "Victory" would not 
tour was scotched by an announcement from Hollywood to the effect that 
the service show would open in Los Angeles Oct. 9, as originally scheduled. 
Play ran for over six months on Broadway (44th Street) to virtual capacity. 



According to reports, Ruth Gordon offered to give up her entire salary 
and skip royalties from "Over 21," at the Music Box, N. Y., one of last 
week's closings, to keep the comedy going for the sake of others in the j 
cast. Max Gordon, who produced the show, decided otherwise, feeling 
that the actress-author should rest before starting on tour in the show in I 
August. . - . '.'"•'...■■•:.. ' "■ ",. ':.'','■ 

House management also figured in the show's exiting gross having! 
dropped. to $7,000, considerably under the estimated figure. Box is one of j 
the most attractive theatres in town but will probably be dark until fall. 



Paul Dullzell, executive secr« tary-treasurer, has joined the board of the 
American Arbitration Assn., but will not serve as an arbitrator. If he was 
to do so every actor with a claim, it's held, would ask him to serve. 

Dullzell's position on the AAA . board is virtually an honorary one. 
'Equity strongly supported the Assn., and <by having its members' claims 
adjusted by arbitration, many cases were kept from the courts. In recog- 
nition of its action the AAA invited Dullzell to join and Equity's council 
assented to his acceptance. : ■ ' .'■'.■ ' - : . : ■ , -.' 



LOSES FIRST STEP ON 
'MERRY WIDOW RIGHTS 

Attorney Daniel L. Brown, son-in- 
law of the late Henry W. Savage, last 
week lost the first step in a court 
fight with the Shuberts. over the 
rights to "The Merry Widow," which 
originated in Europe in the 1860's. 
Judge Charles E. Wyzanski of the 
federal court, Boston, ruled the book 
of the operetta to be in the public 
domain. Savage obtained the 
American rights to "Widow" from 
the late George W. Edwardes, Lon- 
don producer, whose "new version," 
dated 1907, was used fn the U. S. 
Court ruled the American copyright 
had e\pired in 1935. The Shuberts 
were enjoined from presenting 
"Widow'' last year by the Savage 
estate. Both Lee and J. J. Shubert 
were examined in Boston some 
months ago before trial. 

Claimed that the copyright on the 
lyrics was renewed and certain 
parts of the third act revised, which 
will b» brought out in appeal of the 
Wyzanski ruling. This version was 
used in the New Opera Co.'s hit re- 
vival of "Widow" on Broadway 
• Majestic) last season, show having 
opened on the Coast, Monday (10). 

Despite the decision Brown avers 
he owns the "Widow" rights, ac- 
quired from the Savage estate and, 
curiously enough, claims the book 
was never published in America 
nor copyrighted here. 



F. Hugh Herbert, who wrote "For Keeps." which closed at the Miller, 
N. Y., Saturday (8) and which was produced by Gilbert Miller, had a 20% 
share of the show. Authors highly successful "Kiss and Tell" is in, its 
second summer at the Biltmore, V 

Herbert's earnings on "Kiss" have been exceptionally high: for one 
month during the past season, it amounted to $25,000, there being three 
"Kiss" companies on tour in addition to the original. . 



J. Pat O'Malley was brought on from the Coast to appear in "- — But 
Not Goodbye," whic)- was withdrawn last spring soon after Harry Carey 
was forced from the load through illness. Under the contract John Golden, 
who produced "Goodbye," was obligated to pay O'Malley's transportation 
back to Hollywood. ' ,' ; v. ' . ':• ■ : ■/, .■ '';"'■ 

Equity riUed that the manager is not now liable for the fare, O'Malley 
having opened in "Ten Little Indians," Broadhurst, N. Y. ' \ ;'>•:.: 



More or less of a sudden closing last week was "Wallflower" at the Cort, 
N. Y. Meyer Davis, who produced it, declared himself out after Saturday 
•8), but it was proposed to continue under "different" management. Cast 
had been working under cut salaries for a month and when the leads 
declared themselves through, it was finally decided to fold. Recast play 
may show in neighborhood houses. ' .". " .' • 7'C 



hands would be affected, because 
the relatively small number of at- 
traction's. -"that play that long on 
Broadway. 

On Saturday (8) crews received 23 
weeks' additional pay, retroactive to 
Feb. 1. Heads got $241.50; curtain 
and flymen, $171.60, grips and clear- 
ers, $160.56. There Was some vari- 
ance on the matter of holiday per- 
formances in the interim and all 
sums were subject to 20% withhold- 
ing tax plus social security deduc- 
tions. In houses where there are 
one-set shows with five-man crews, 
total cost to the theatre topped 
$1,000 but the amount actually paid 
was $835, what with the required 
deductions. , 

New scale for heads is $98 weekly, 
flymen getting $69.44 and grips, 
$64.96. 



Sleek 'Waltz King' To 
Reopen in L A. Aug. 7 

Los Angeles, July 11. 

Streamlined version of "The Waltz 
King" will open here at the Philhar- 
monic Auditorium Aug. 7, with 
Richard Bonelli in title role. 

After three weeks here, the op 
eretta is slated for two weeks in San 
Francisco, followed by a road tour 
including Seattle, Portland, Salt 
Lake City, Denver, Tulsa, Oklahoma 
City, Kansas City and St. Louis. 



'Over 21' for London 

"Over 21." Broadway hit, is to be 
staged in London. Max Gordon is 
now drawing up the. papers for the 
Ruth Gordon comedy's English pre- 
sentation. .:'.'■': 

Hugh Beaumont is the London 
producer. :•; :,':.■ '■■.. 



BE LIAGRE DUE EAST , 

,'' Hollyvirood, July 11. 

Wi th HUgh Marlowe and K. T. Ste- 
vens pacted for Chicago company of 
"Voice of the Turtle," by Alfred de 
Liagre, Ji\, latter leaves for N. Y. 
next week. 

He is still looking for a femme to 
put in the third spot, the Audrey 
Christie role. r\ ' 



MCA's Legit Revamp 

Switch of Phil Bloom of Music 
Corp. of America's legit department 
to the Coast, to handle company's 
film clients under Taft Schreibcr, 
cued MCA into dividing his duties 
between veepee Charlie' Miller and 
Ben Krariz, stage manager for Lillian 
Hellman's "The Searching Wind," 
doubling as an agent at MCA. 

Edith Van Cleve continues in the 
leg/t department. 



In^OTfflrStiB 
Debate 2 Points 



Broadway producers and the Asso- 
ciation of Theatrical Agents and 
Managers are still to reach agree- 
ment on two points before the five- 
year basic pact is actually accepted 
by both sides. ATAM-ers asserted 
that the matter of "new blood," or 
additions to the membership,, has. 
been settled but the League of New' 
York Theatres people declare this is 
not a fact. Latter expected the 
Union to submit its version of the 
membership-qualification section in 
the "agreement" last week but no 
word was received. . - : :'.. 

ATAM insists that no new press 
agents can be admitted unless by the 
three-year apprentice method, pro- 
ducers saying that is not satisfactory. 
Up to now producers could get new 
publicity people into the union on 
the ground of unusual ability, and 
they aim to keep that avenue open, 
agreeable to the stipulation that not 
more than five such admissions be 
made yearly. ATAM aims to lock 
that door to membership, effecting a 
closed shop. There is some talk of 
an apprentice idea for company and 
house managers, however. 

The other point to be cleared up 
is stock, union wanting provisions 
lor that field and the League saying 
its showmen are inactive in that 
direction. ATAM wants the pact to 
include stock, just in case some pro- 
ducers do go into stock, so that pro- 
posed rules would generally apply. 



GREENFIELD SERIOUSLY ILL 

Jean Greenfield, president of the 
Hebrew Actors Union, is in Poly- 
clinic hospital, "N. V, with an acute 
•anemic condition. . \ ' : •. 

He has had more than a score of 
transfusions but is still seriously ill. 



Forrest Orr replaced Russell Col- 
lins in "Goose for the Gander," 
which opened at Biackstone theatre. 
Chicago, list night (11) for a run. 



Deal With Sfanberts 

For ladies' in N. Y. 

Detroit, July 11. 

"Good Night Ladies" will finally 
reach New York. Show, which had 
long Chicago run and good stretch 
here, will close following this week 
at the Cass to be reccst in four 
weeks. It is understood that only 
Skeets Gallagher will be carried over 
from present cast. 

Present plans call for taking the 
comedy into Washington, then Balti- 
more before hitting Broadway. Al 
Rosen is reported making a deal with 
the Shuberts for the New York ap- 
pearance. : 7>" ; -''v 



42 



KR&lttTY 



Wednesday, July 12, 1911 



OBIT UAH IE S 



MA J. DAVID F. SILVERS-TEIN 

Maj. David F. Silversteitv 47; 
former him, playwright and ex-news- 
paperman, died July 6 in Halloran 
.'General Hospital, Stat en Island, N.Y. 
He was attached to U. S. Army Pho- 
tiis^aphie Center, Astoria, I., that 
produced Army training films. Sil- 
verstcin wrote film scripts for many 
major film ' companies, 'including 
Metro. Columbia, Paramount and 
Republic, He also was 'in the music 
publishing business having headed 
Harms Music Co. at one time; 

A veteran of the first 'World War, 
Silycrstein held many medals' for 
gallantry on the battlefields includ- 
ing the purple Heart. Croix De 
Guerre. Medal. of Honor and foreign 
decorations. After his experience in 
thai war, he was convinced that mo- 
tion pictures could be of vast value, 
in. training soldiers for the next war 
by shortening the training period and 
simplifying understanding of prob- 
■ leiri&.'of warfare. .>'•', '- 

Sih'crstein helped organize the 
training films section of the Signal 
Corps, and wrote and produced many 
of the pictures which are credited 
with helping the Army training pro- 
gram. He was a reporter and edi- 
tor on N. Y„ Pittsburgh and Chicago 
newspapers following his graduation 
. from .University of Pennsylvania... i 

Survived by widow. Alice Gray- 
son," Itlm actress, and son. 



radio circuits: to France, Germany, 
Norway and other European coun- 
trie, and to South America. He 
supervised the reception 'in N.Y. of 
the flrs't picture transmitted by com- 
mercial mriio service. 

Survived by -Wtdo\\, two sisters 
?nd two: sons, Roy W. being an ayiar 
tion' engineer with U. S..- Navy., ■ 



GEORGE B. SEITZ 

George B: Seilz; 5(5, notable figure 
in film industry, died July 8 dti: 
Hollywood after a varied career. ';.s 
artist, writer,: actor, playwright, di- 
rector and producer. Starting as a 
paiiiter. he turned to the stage early 
and became an actor. : Wrote hU 
fii'st play. "The King's Game," at the 
luge of. 21. , • 

His film career began in 1914 at 
Paths where he functioned as a star 
and scenarist, and later as director 
o£ the Pearl White serials. Prodiic- j 
ing a stage musical with Alex Aatons 
in 1919, Seitz hired an obscure com- I 
poser to write the score. The com- f 
poser was George Gershwin. - 

In his long career as a director. 
Seitz worked at Paramount, Univer- 
sal, Metropolitan, PDC, FBO. RKO. 
Fox and Columbia, until 1930, when 
li» •■moved to Metro and remained 



■ HARRY T. NOLAN : ;: 

Harry T. Nolan. 72. producer, the- 
atre owner .and film distributor, died 
in Denver. July t. . Nolan was princi- 
pally interested in exhibition, owning 
several theatres in Colorado and Ok- 
lahoma At one time, he was First 
National, franchise holder in Denver 
and Salt Lake City. .;':• 

While an exhibitor Nolan went to 
Hollywood where he was' associated 
with Carl Lae.mmle in forming Uni- 
versal. \as' well. as in film production. 

Nolan started as an exhibitor in 
the 90 s when he handled brief ac- 
tion ftims in a sideshow with Hagen- 
back-Wallace circus. He opened his 
first theatre in 1906 in Denver, and 
later branched out in the state and 
Oklahoma. Theatres later were 1 ab- 
so> bed iti the Westland group. . , 

Survived by a ^daughter, 

FRED I.. MILLS 

Fred L. Mills 49. president of Mills 
Indus! lies, Inc.-.. which was rated' 
largest manufacturer: of coin-oper- 
ated machines .in U. S. before the 
war; died July 6 in St. Charles, III. 
He was pioneer in automatic mach- 
inery business being credited with 
'making- '"juke' boxes'' popular. His 
company now is entirely in war pro- 
duction,., ' - ■ ">:v.'.r^ 
Mills became head of concern after 
liis'falher s death in 1929. company's 
name: being, changed, irom Mills 
Novell* Co. 1 1st yen 
. Survived by widow, a son.' two 
daughters, four sisters and three 
brothers, last three being officials of 

Mil's Co.- . •: . .:;:;..->'.■-■'■:"-.-.■ :'- - 



was killed July 3 in the wreck of the 
Santa Ke Chief railroad train near 
Williams, Ariz, He was onrohte to 
Los Angqle.s cm business.-- 
Details in film section. 

Percy G. Robins, 50, manager of 
WKBV. Richmond, Ind.. for the last 
year, died July 3 in Richmond. Be- 
fore going to 'Richmond eight years 
ago, he was a program director for 
Fort Wayne stations, starting a num- 
ber of new programs, including the 
present. "Home Forum'' broadcast. 

Survived, by widow-.. .-. 



Jacob Ginsburg., 74. father of 
Norman Jay, produces "Open Let- 
ter" program, WMCA. N Y., died in 
Philadelphia. July 10. : He was for- 
merly publisher Philadelphia Jewish 

world. '..'"■'■;.■. ■,; y •■■.'.'■' :.■'..•:••"'■'■,.•.•;■'•.'. 



Mrs, Charlotte Taulienhaiis, 74, 

mother of Gene Doyle, who. is early 
years was a concert and operatic 
singer "known as Chaiiotte Kaas, 
died in New' York. July t>. , Had ap- 
peared % ilh De Res '.l-:e Opera Com- 
pany and others. '■'.•. . . 



E, C. Diumni, 61. manager Gooding 
Greater Shows Columbus. O, tor 
last 28 years, died there July t>. Sur- 
vived by widow and a brother. ... ,. 



something...! don't know of any- 
thing I have been connected with in 
the war that has been more .■■tremen- 
dous, more exciting and more inter- 
esting than the work that is going 
on in the camps under the leadership 
of the National Conference of Chris- 
tians and Jews." 

Andrew M. Goitschall, of NCCJ. 
introduced the team at the Wing 
meeting. The other speakers were 
Father Vincent A. Brown and Rabbi 
Philip Bernstein, who is minister of 
the Liberal Jewish Temple, Roches- 
ter. N. Y. on leave of absence. He 
mentioned having spoken before an 
audience of 5.000 men at Ft. Mon- 
mouth, N. J,« a few weeks ago and 
said it was the largest volunteer out- 
pouring of men to hear a clergyman. 
He wasn't sure whether the boys at 
all the camps liked his addresses but 
was certain they did at Monmouth. ,' 

There have been as many as 28 
meetings in a single camp. Schedule 
of the religions teams is indicated by 
tiie routine set by a team which had 
to. address 48.000 men at 20 sessions 
in a period of. three days. The audi- 
ences ranged from 1,500 to 4.000 each 
In that spot but the trios have ad- 
dressed audiences as large as 10,000 
at one time. * NCCJ appearances are 
conceded to have enhanced the work 



Mother, 65. of Sam Bi amson. Wil- 
Maifi Morris acts depa rimc'iil. died 
July 5 in Kansas City. Mb. - . Y '•' '-" 



South Pacific 

Continued from pase « 



EDWARD E. COLLINS 

Edward E. Collins. 49, city manager 
San 'Antonio I nte v s tat e . Thet i itrc^'dfe ^ 
July 8 in that, city. He died after _a 
heart attack following work the pre- 
vious- night in laying out details of 
a bond show for- youngsters. For 



there until his death. His first Metro three years he was manager M-'jestic 



■ picture,. '"' A Family Affair," started 
Mickey Rooney on his way to star- 
dom and later developed into the 
Andy Hardy series. Among his di- 
rectorial, tasks were "The Vanishing 
American." "Blood Ship." "Lost 
Frontier." "Great Mail Robbery," 
"Isle of Forgotten Women." "Pass- 
port to Paradise." "Arizona" and 
"Pierre of the Plains." .■ '<.. ': ' 

Survived by widow, son and 
daughter.' .• \. 



Mother of Georgie A.ul.d. drch 
leader. . succumbed ;tb h'ea rt a t tack at 
home' in Brooklyn, N. Y , July 3 



Theatre Wing 

; Coin hiued from pise I 



uie money regularly, these teams 
have had admirable results. 

The Wing is the largest single 
contributor to NCCJ. Last season it 
donated $50,000. and recently gave 
another $25,000, after being inspired 
by the experiences of three clerics 
at the training camps. The trio '.'ad- 
dressed a. Wing board meeting re- 
cently, after. Which it was immedi- 
ately proposed to donate additional 
money. 



der the handicap of driving ' rain. 
The boys in Wenzel's area are eager- 
ly awaiting, the Bob Hope-Frances 
Lahgford tour, hoping it doesn't pass 
them by. Wenzel spoke highly of 
"Destination Tokio" but revealed 
that all war dramas do not meet with 
the same success and approval in. 
the . GI ranks. 

"They don't mind a picture like 
'Destination.' b'lft do hate what they 
call the 'flag Waving'' variety;. There 
are a lot of them." 

Most popular films , with the men 
are such pictures as "Captains Cour- 
ageous." "Woman of the Year" and 
"A Guy Named Joe." The spiritual 
element, too; is welcome, says 
Wenzel. ,..'.:•'.'..,-;. "■■,;•'.'■■'*] 

"When 'Song of BernadetteVwas 
shown you could have heard a pin 



heatre there and five years Sau 
Antonio city manager of Interstate 
Circuit. Had been in show business 
almost 23 years and had operated 
theatres in many Texas cities, 

Collins " WoS ' local" chairman of 
WAC. and had been active in loan 
drives and other civic affairs. Sur- 
vived by widow, two daughters and 
one sister. 



Sol Lesser'* Idea 

Par t ici pat-ion— i» — tins— NCCJ — m.is_| drop allh onf; h the fi-tw -c ace! u "su. 

ally pretty noisy and make quite au- 
dible comments." Many films do not 
reach the area at all. Notable among 
those missed and which many of the 
men expressed a desire to see were 
'Best Foot: Forward.' 'Old Acquaint- 
ance.' 'Let's Face It' and 'Happy Go 
Lucky'."; :.'■ . '; :.' '■'.■- ■'"■•..•, 



NAT. CARR 

Nat Carr,. 57, veteran slag 
screen actor, died iii"Holly\yood. July I June 19 



EDWARD DUDLEY NAFF 

i Edward Dudley Naff. 64. musical 
director for 15; years at: station 
and WRVA. Richmond, Va., died there 



6. He had done considerable film 
work l here until his retirement sev- 
eral years aSo. 

Born in Russia, Carr came to this 
country as- a boy and branched out 
into show biz in New York. In early 
years he was on the, road in pop 
legits, of Stair & Havlih Circuit. lie 
later appeared in burlesque, succeed- 
in;! Alex Carr In "Wine. Women and 
Soiig" ;riicr this show catapulted the 
latter Carr to Broadw-ay stardom. He 
also toured vaude after "W.W.&S." 
fprded: in skit. "The End of the World" 
(Tcbh'tsky Sez). a. wallop from the 
burley show. He also appear